Earlier today we pointed out that the NFL’s top six reminders to players regarding gambling policies should include a seventh: Don’t bet in places where sports betting is still not legal.

The NFL responded to the post, noting that the player training sessions do indeed mention the problem of illegal gambling. The league sent out a slide of the presentation. However, the message is relegated to a box at the bottom of a three-part checklist regarding legal gambling activities.

It reads: “Gambling must be legal where you bet. Sports betting remains illegal in 11 states, including the club’s home states: CA, GA, MN, MO, TX. Also illegal in AL, AK, ID, OK, SC and UT.”

That’s fine. Our point is that it should be more than a footnote on a slide. It should be an important part of the message.

And, as mentioned earlier, it should be expanded to an admonition to never use a bookmaker, in a state where gambling is legal or illegal. Because bookmakers operate on credit. And gambling credit leads to gambling debt. And gambling debt leads to problems.