Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte has illegal gambling charges dropped, per report

One week before he is scheduled to report to training camp, New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte received some positive news. The State of Louisiana decided to drop the charges of underage gambling and computer fraud against the 22-year-old, according to a report by ESPN’s Mike Reiss.

A sixth-round draft pick by the Patriots last offseason, Boutte was arrested in January after allegedly having placed more than 8,900 illegal wagers between April 2022 and Maye 2023. Investigators claimed he set up an online gaming account and fraudulently claimed he was of legal age to make those bets.

Among them were at least 17 bets on NCAA games, per Louisiana Police, including six on contests involving LSU. Boutte seized his gambling activities shortly after getting drafted.

The NFL gambling policy allows players to participate in sports betting as long as wagers are not league-related. So far, the NFL has refrained from making any comments about the situation involving Boutte and whether he faces any potential discipline.

The Patriots, meanwhile, saw Boutte actively participate in their offseason workout program.

“Right now he’s out here,” said head coach Jerod Mayo in May. “We’ll wait to hear from the league going forward, but he’s out here doing a good job for us.”

Boutte appeared in fives games for the Patriots in 2023, playing 116 offensive snaps. He finished his rookie campaign with two catches for a combined 19 yards. Entering 2024, the expectation is that he will compete for a depth spot on New England’s wide receiver depth chart.

The Patriots will open their training camp on July 24. Veterans such as Boutte will report to Gillette Stadium one day prior, with rookies set to arrive on July 19.