“Addiction is a real thing!” – Ex-LSU star Kayshon Boutte placing over 8900 bets in his lifetime doesn’t sit well with fans on social media

Kayshon Boutte the latest to fall prey to online gambling.

“Addiction is a real thing!” – Ex-LSU star Kayshon Boutte placing over 8900 bets in his lifetime doesn’t sit well with fans on social media

Former LSU Tigers wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (Image via ESPN)

Online betting comes back to haunt another NFL player. New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte was arrested on Thursday on charges related to illegal online gaming while still in college.

According to Louisiana State Police, Boutte, who starred for the LSU Tigers in college football, the 21-year-old turned himself in. The authorities charged him with computer fraud, a felony, and a misdemeanor count of gaming prohibited for persons under 21.

YouTube video

WFAB reported,

Some of the alleged illegal gaming took place while he was an LSU player, investigators allege. However, a source familiar with the case said Boutte never bet “against himself” or his actions in [LSU] games. In other words, he is not accused of throwing a game.

Football fans on social media showed their disdain for Kayshon Boutte’s arrest due to gambling

Per the Louisiana State Police, Boutte allegedly used an alias to bypass the legal age for gambling and placed more than 8,900 wagers over 13 months from April 2022 to May 2023, including at least six LSU football games.

"Addiction is a real thing!" - Ex-LSU star Kayshon Boutte placing over 8900 bets in his lifetime doesn't sit well with fans on social media
New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (Image via ESPN)

In addition to the Tigers games, he was alleged to have placed bets on 17 NCAA football games. The police suspect’s allegations are just the tip of the iceberg; more could follow upon further investigation.

Boutte is just another individual in a long queue of athletes with gambling addictions. Previously, Jacksonville Jaguars’ wide receiver Calvin Ridley rose to the front pages for his betting habits. Ridley revealed in a post last year that he wasn’t in the best state of mind after leaving Atlanta; hence, he turned to online gambling.

These growing numbers of players turning to gambling are a rising concern, despite the league’s best efforts to put a stop to it. Fans on social media share the same opinion, but that did not stop them from taking jabs at Boutte.

https://twitter.com/clay_c0le/status/1750607208432173527
https://twitter.com/Yordan4HOF/status/1750616683180404964

WFAB reported that the police released Boutte from the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison, posting a $6,000 bond. Effective immediately. The NFL said in a statement that they were aware of the developments regarding Boutte but did not further comment as per insider Ian Rapoport.

LSU also released a statement. According to the text, they were made aware of the situation last July. They agreed to provide their full cooperation in the investigation.

Boutte played three seasons with the LSU Tigers from 2020 to ’22, appearing in 11 of the Tigers’ 14 games during the 2022 campaign. During this time, his gambling news surfaced, but shortly after, it subsided, and he returned for another season. However, he made a U-turn and decided to announce for the 2023 NFL Draft, in which the New England Patriots selected him in the 6th round.

In case you missed it: