Dianna Russini Faces Backlash Over Offshore BetUS Deal

Dianna Russini returned to sports media on Wednesday following a seven-month absence with the debut of her weekly show, “The Russini Report,” on “BetUS TV”.

Her comeback has drawn criticism from fans and media members, particularly regarding her decision not to address the controversy involving New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.

However, another part of her return has received less attention involving her partnership with an offshore sportsbook that is not licensed in the United States, according to Pro Football Network.

NFL insider Mike Florio made it clear he finds the lack of criticism around the deal surprising, highlighting how sports gambling has become normalized.

“It’s an example of how so broadly normalized gambling has become that this show is on an illegal offshore gambling site and nobody seems to be bothered that,” Florio said.

BetUS operates offshore from Costa Rica and is not licensed to offer sports betting in any U.S. state, with several state gaming regulators taking enforcement action against the company.

Michigan issued a cease-and-desist order against the company in May 2025, which caught Florio’s attention.

Florio also acknowledged that Russini may not have had many options available when looking to restart her media career.

“I mean, if you’re going to make a comeback in sports media, I think you’re going to aim a little higher, and the truth may be that she did, and that’s all that was out there,” Florio added.

Florio then explained he would be hesitant to accept a similar opportunity regardless of the money involved, believing a journalist’s reputation is too important to risk.

Florio is not the only media personality who has questioned Russini’s decision regarding the partnership.

Veteran sports radio host Craig Carton also criticized the partnership on his “The Carton Show,” calling it a “horrendous choice”.

The criticism surrounding Russini’s comeback was not limited to her choice of employer, as the first episode of her show also ran into technical problems.

The show was scheduled to premiere on November 11 at noon ET on the platform’s website and X account, but viewers were left waiting after the website crashed and delayed the broadcast by 45 minutes.

BetUS later blamed the problem on a record-breaking audience that overwhelmed its servers, though the company did not release viewership figures to substantiate its claim, per the initial report.

Russini is also expected to appear as a featured contributor on the “Nobody’s Safe” podcast alongside her former ESPN colleague Jon “Stugotz” Weiner.