Kayshon Boutte has revealed how a hidden gambling addiction pushed him to the brink of losing everything, including his NFL career, describing a period where he says he was “completely ruined.”
The New England Patriots wide receiver opened up on how his struggles began during his college years at the LSU Tigers, after an injury left him sidelined, vulnerable, and searching for escape while his football future felt uncertain.
“I was 20. I was at LSU,” Boutte wrote in The Players’ Tribune. “Full ride. Whole future ahead of me. And I didn’t care at all.
“Some people hit the slots, the tables, the apps, spend what they can spend, and go home – or put the phone down. Not me,” he continued, emphasizing how gambling consumed his routine without pause.
“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.
“I had insomnia, so if I woke up in the middle of the night, phone next to the bed, I’d bet. Any little money I had, it was going straight to FanDuel,” he added, underscoring the severity.
“I knew I was addicted,” Boutte admitted. “When you lose, and you’re an addict, there’s this voice in the back of your mind like, No, no, no…… I gotta get my money back. I GOTTA get it back.”
The lowest point came when Boutte said he gambled until he was “completely broke,” later confirming he lost $90,000, a devastating sum that nearly erased his opportunity to reach the NFL.
But fatherhood ultimately became a turning point, giving the 23-year-old renewed purpose and motivating him to live up to the example set by his own father, while rebuilding discipline and accountability off the field.
He also credited the Patriots for standing by him, even after past gambling issues resurfaced following his January 2024 arrest on underage gambling and computer fraud charges, which were later dropped.
On the field, Boutte appeared in 14 games this season, recording 33 receptions for 551 yards and six touchdowns, production that reflected both personal recovery and professional talent as he looks to win the Super Bowl.
Can Stefon Diggs play for New England Patriots vs Los Angeles Chargers?
Elsewhere, attention has also focused on fellow Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs, who was charged with felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault and battery shortly before the NFL Playoffs began.
The claims have emerged following a reported dispute with his chef over alleged unpaid wages. The receiver is said to have struck the woman and tried to choke her by using his elbow around her neck.
Despite the charges, Diggs has denied the allegations, has the backing of his organization, and remains eligible to play in the AFC Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs.
The NFL noted they were “charges filed with a police department, not formal charges,” allowing him to suit up against the Los Angeles Chargers on January 11.
Diggs has caught 85 passes for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns in the 2025 season, making him central to New England‘s offense as the team prepares for its AFC Wild Card matchup.
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