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Ryan Bowman received a 42-month ban amid a gambling investigation after violating the Football Association’s betting policy. Not only did the striker bet on his sport, but it was determined that he’d placed wagers directly relating to his own team on multiple occasions.
Bowman admitted to the wrongdoing. He reportedly placed more than 6,000 bets across an eight-year period.
This is the most serious case which includes a number of egregious examples of breaches of the FA Rules against betting.
Bowman previously played for Shrewsbury, Exeter, and Cheltenham. The investigation showed that he’d placed almost 2,600 bets from December of 2020 to July 2021 while at Exeter, and another 3,100 between August 2021 and July 2023 with Shrewsbury.
He signed with Cheltenham while under investigation and last played for the club in January.
A story from BBC details the striker’s gambling activity. It says that 351 bets included games in which his teams were participating. Some involved betting on his team’s success. Others predicted his team to lose. Six were placed on his own personal goal-scoring props.
Ryan Bowman allegedly placed a bet from the sidelines during a game.
In one instance, he’s said to have made a wager while on the sideline midgame, which he denied. In 2023 while at Shrewsbury, it was alleged that he placed a bet from the substitute bench during a game between Shrewsbury and Milton Keynes Dons after it had already gotten underway.
He entered that game in the 80th minute of action. He reportedly bet on a goal being scored in both halves.
Betting on the bench is wild! #Salop https://t.co/hW0n3jwrmc https://t.co/ujg85ekGp1 pic.twitter.com/aHszp6hRQm
— Salop1977 (@Salop1977) July 9, 2025
His former teams have since released statements on the ban. “Cheltenham officials were aware that Ryan was under investigation by the FA when he signed for the Club at the start of the 2024/25 season, but the full extent of the offences was not known until October, when charges were brought under the FA’s betting regulations,” Cheltenham wrote.
“Club officials supported Ryan through what has been a difficult time for him and despite his departure from Cheltenham Town this summer, again we would like to place on record our thanks to him and wish him and his family all the best for the future.”
Shrewsbury said, “A significant number of these breaches occurred during his time at Shrewsbury Town… The club were first made aware Ryan had broken betting rules after being contacted by the FA, though the extent of the charges remained unclear at the time,” after learning of the ban.
“From that point we did everything we could to assist their investigation. While we are disappointed with the severity of the offences, we have done everything in our power to support Ryan and his family.”
At 33 years old, the betting scandal puts Ryan Bowman’s future in jeopardy. His ban runs through September of 2028.