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Right as preregistration for Missouri sportsbooks began, Patrick Mahomes offered a candid view on gambling during his latest Kansas City Chiefs media session.
Good to Know
Mahomes made his position clear during his Wednesday press conference, saying he stays far away from placing bets on any sport. The quarterback spoke at a moment when federal cases involving illegal gambling placed a national spotlight on athlete conduct and insider access.
“I just stay away from it. I don’t want to put myself in that position. Your life is so great, why mess with it?” he told reporters.
His remarks followed federal announcements revealing charges against more than 30 individuals across 11 states. One case focused on insider wagering linked to the NBA, while another involved high-stakes poker games run by people tied to organized crime.
Mahomes said the entire situation makes him even more cautious. He described how betting can change how fans interact with players.
“More than anything, to me, it gets weird sometimes when you have fans talking about it.You’re just trying to go out there and live your life and play the game, and sometimes they get really attached even more than like the regular fan because they have money on the line.”
He later added advice for supporters who choose to wager:
“And, so, from me to them, I would just say, ‘Don’t do anything that you can’t recuperate or live without.'”
The timing stood out. Missouri opened preregistration for sportsbook accounts on Nov 17, with full mobile wagering set to begin Dec 1. Activity around the launch has been high, and operators expect strong demand across the state.
Mahomes acknowledged the changing landscape but urged players and fans to keep perspective, adding:
“It’s a crazy world we live in these days, seeing all this stuff happen. But I think you just focus on the football and focus on the sport that you love and why you’re here, and you don’t have to worry about other stuff.”
His comments came as Missouri prepared to launch sports betting and federal investigators announced new betting-related arrests.
No. He said he avoids gambling entirely because he views it as an unnecessary risk.
Investigators charged more than 30 people in two linked schemes involving insider NBA betting and mafia-connected poker games.
He said some fans become overly invested when money is at stake, creating uncomfortable situations for players.
Mobile wagering goes live on Dec 1, with preregistration already open.