A Brief And Selective Review Of Sports Betting History, Understandings And Scandals
Not Nearly A Complete List Of Questions, Considerations Or Events. Just Enough To Demonstrate That Gambling Can Exist In Any And All Levels Of Organized Sports.
What Is Allowed? What Is Against The Rules? Who Is Being Restricted? History Has Involved Players. Involved Managers. Involved Officials. Involved Close Associates. No One Is Immune, Making No Sports Betting Option Impossible.
This is part two of a three-part series on sports wagers and professional sports. Part one—“As The NFL Season Approaches, An Introduction To Sports Betting Might Be In Order”—is available on Stadium Rant.
FIFA. English Premier League. LALIGA. MLS. Bundesliga. Can a footballer—a professional soccer player—walk into a gas station and purchase a Powerball ticket? Or, is that a violation of the gambling policies that may or may not be in place for these and other leagues?
Seems like a simple question. Kind of basic concept. It’s lottery and not traditional casino gambling, and certainly not sports betting. But all is not simple in the land of legalized gambling. It can get more complex. The lines can blur.
Can a player in the WNBA or NHL enter a casino and play blackjack?
Can a player in the NFL or MLB place a wager on an NBA game?
Here’s a fun bit of knowledge: Different casinos have different rules when it comes to the subject of employees gambling. Some organizations don’t allow staff to gamble at their property at all. Others do allow staff to gamble, on their property, but may add restrictions such as limiting these activities to off-work hours or not allowing it in specific areas if it conflicts with employment assignments (for example, a member of a slot department may not be allowed to play the slot machines).
The most generic answer to the brain-teasers that opened this article is straightforward enough, and likely the expected outcome: Most professional athletes can bet, even on sports, as long as the wagers are legally placed and do not involve action of any type involving the sport in which they participate. There are expansions and twists on this depending on the league. Some leagues do not allow gambling at team or league facilities. Some have stronger limitations on coaches and front office personnel. The vast majority of professional athletes, however, are allowed to walk into a Las Vegas casino to play roulette or to purchase lottery scratch-off tickets at the grocery store.
Does any of this matter? Is the potential of career jeopardy on a purchase of a Mega Millions ticket truly significant?
Actually, yes. Gambling is expanding into all corners of the United States. Only two states, Nevada and New Jersey, had legalized casino gambling for quite some time. As the 1980s turned into the 1990s and 2000s, the adjustment of state laws and expansion of Native American gaming found more and more properties opening across the country. Currently, more than eighty-percent of U.S. states have casinos run by commercial or tribal groups, with many having both. Temptation and opportunity is available around pretty much any corner.
In the world of sports, fans have been treated with the fact and fiction of conspiracy theories for years. The belief that a certain team is playing poorly to improve draft status. Accusations that the officials are making calls specifically to reward or punish teams and players. Understandings that the best players get preferential treatment. The classics include (writer’s words):
“Well, the league wants fill-in-in-the-blank in the playoffs.”
Common fill-in-the-blank recipients include the Yankees, Cowboys, and Patrick Mahomes. They extend to certain media markets, implying favoritism for the large cities as they bring more viewers. These are all commonly accepted and exchanged accusations and insults, and reach such a high degree of casual application that Tom Brady and the New England Patriots were, for years, placed on both sides (again, writer’s words):
“The commissioner hates Brady so much they’ll call anything against New England.”
“You aren’t allowed to touch Brady. Just breath near him and you’ll get a flag.”
So, we are existing in an environment where bets can be placed just about anywhere, a certain degree of questionable calls have always been on the mind of many, and few things stir the passions as much as gambling and sports. It’s a lethal combination. (Good thing alcohol is never involved or a devious trinity would be complete.)
The opportunity is there. The passion is there. The money is there. All of which leads to more important questions. One in particular: Who has been involved? And the answer is: Everyone.
Managers? Pete Rose was accused of gambling on games involving his team when he managed the Cincinnati Reds. The back-and-forth of admissions against claims of innocence has continued for decades, but he accepted his punishment at the time in return for no formal declaration or finding being set.
Players? Too many examples to list. It ranges from multiple teammates (perhaps the most famous involving the Chicago White Sox and the 1919 World Series) to countless players. NBA player Jontay Porter was banned as a result of an investigation that determined he had wagered on games and also gave inside information valuable to prop-bets to a bettor.
Officials? NBA referee Tim Donaghy pleaded guilty and served prison time for his involvement in gambling activities.
Countries? Yes, countries. In international competitions several countries have been accused of setting up results. The usual idea is based on one individual/team losing on purpose to create more favorable conditions a second individual/team from the country, or, to set up results in early tournament stages that establish better positioning for later rounds. Badminton has some of the best examples of such accusations, including officials ejecting some players in the 2012 Summer Olympics women’s doubles competition.
Associates? One name: Ippei Mizuhara. The interpreter for one of the biggest names in baseball, Shohei Ohtani, pleaded guilty to counts related to stealing almost $17 million for illegal gambling activities.
In June 2023, a Mark Deeks article in Forbes cited a USA Today report about player suspensions. He noted that 14 players had been issued gambling-related suspensions in NFL history. Of that total, nine players—or more than sixty-four percent—had been suspended in just the previous two months.
The industry is growing, and growing with a staggering amount of cash being put into play. Physical locations are being joined by virtual methods of placing bets. Leagues seem to be suspending more players for gambling activities while facing increasing questions about result integrity.
The legendary thought applicable to so many situations seem appropriate for the leagues, organizations, businesses that accept sports wagers and more to recognize for this one: The most important step in recovery is often the recognition you have a problem.
When it comes to sports betting, history has shown there is a problem.
This article is part of a three-piece series on overall awareness of sports wagering and the potential for difficulties and issues from unfair play. None of these articles are intended, in any way, to suggest or argue that any leagues, organizations or personnel are presenting anything other than fair and legitimate competitions, with accurate and true results. Instead, as markets expand and the dollars wagered increase, the articles are meant to show that temptations and motivations for illegal and unfair activities have occurred previously, and have the potential to occur again with widespread gambling availability and acceptance.
Check out Stadium Rant for the best in fan-run journalism
EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS:
Order your favorite whiskey or spirit for the big game right to your doorstep and use code STADIUMRANT10 for a 10% discount at Caskers
Use code STADIUMRANT20 for a 20% discount at Bulletproof Coffee, SwingJuice and Performix.
If you love to shotgun beers, use code STADIUMRANT10 at Wild Man Drinking Company.
MORE FROM STADIUM RANT:
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to our newsletter here. Check out Stadium Rant Original shows on our Youtube channel and subscribe! Give our socials Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok a follow for more great content!
Comments