New England Patriots star Kayshon Boutte has delivered a raw and emotional account of a gambling addiction that spiralled out of control, nearly costing him his professional future in the NFL.
The Descent into Addiction
In a powerfully candid essay for The Players' Tribune titled 'How The Hell Did I Get Here', the 23-year-old wide receiver pulled back the curtain on his off-field struggles. Boutte revealed his gambling addiction began during his time at Louisiana State University (LSU), triggered after an ankle injury sidelined him for an extended period.
'I was 20. I was at LSU. Full ride. Whole future ahead of me. And I didn’t care at all,' Boutte confessed. While others might gamble casually, his habit became an all-consuming obsession. 'I’d wake up early in the morning, and the first thing I’d do was bet. I’d stay up late and bet. All day. All night,' he wrote, describing how insomnia and a phone by his bed fuelled a relentless cycle.
He knew he was addicted, driven by a compulsive need to recoup losses. 'When you lose, and you’re an addict, there’s this voice... I gotta get my money back. I GOTTA get it back,' he explained.
Hitting Rock Bottom: A $90,000 Loss
Boutte described losing touch with reality, 'laying in bed, in the dark, in pain' as the addiction took hold. The moment of reckoning came when he gambled himself into complete financial ruin. 'I gambled until I was completely broke,' he stated. In total, he deposited and lost approximately $90,000 of his own money.
'At a certain point, when you hit rock bottom, every gambling addict has this moment when you layin’ in bed just seeing $0.00 on the app. And you know that’s your last,' Boutte recounted, painting a stark picture of his lowest point. He credited his father with providing the inspiration he needed to begin turning his life around.
Legal Scrutiny and Team Support
Boutte's past caught up with him in January 2024, when an arrest warrant was issued in connection with an online gambling investigation. It was alleged he had placed 8,900 wagers while underage. However, all gambling charges against him were dropped in July 2024.
The athlete expressed profound gratitude to the Patriots organisation for standing by him during this tumultuous period. 'How many of those 32 teams would’ve just walked away at that point? Especially from a sixth-round pick. But the organization knew my heart, and they stuck by me,' he said.
His revelation comes just days before the Patriots face the Los Angeles Chargers in their first playoff game. On the field, Boutte has built on an impressive season, making 14 appearances for the Patriots with 33 receptions for 551 yards and six touchdowns.
