Just a couple of months ago, I wrote in this space about the perils of sports betting barreling down the road with regards to professional sports. At the time, Jontay Porter, former Missouri Tiger was being suspended for sports betting. The names are starting to pile up – and the problems with professional leagues are beginning to mount.
The rules are pretty simple – don’t bet. Depending on the league you work for, you can’t bet on anything. The reasons are equally as simple. You have access to information the public doesn’t about the potential conclusion of a game – whether it’s in your sport or not. Gambling needs to be perceived as fair and trustworthy and therefore betting on that game could sway the outcome.
It’s one thing if you’re playing baseball and betting on cricket in India. It’s a completely different thing if you’re betting on baseball as an active baseball player.
And that’s exactly what happened to five ballplayers last week when MLB announced suspensions. The same thing happened in Major League Soccer as well, when a member of Sporting Kansas City was suspended – for a second time – for betting on the sport.
And perhaps most shockingly, a member of MLB’s umpire corps was suspended for an “undisclosed” betting violation. Pat Hoberg was suspended last week although the league has been clear to say the early findings are that it didn’t impact games he was umpiring.
This nearly destroyed the NBA back in 2007 when Tim Donaghy, an NBA official, was suspended for betting on basketball games. Games in which he had significant sway over.
Major leagues need to nip this in the bud – and fast. But here’s the problem… They’re in bed with these gambling companies. Major League Baseball has a strong affiliation with DraftKings as well as several other gambling outfits. Each team has their own preferred betting company. Heck, you can even gamble right on site of many of these locations. Arizona’s Chase Field, for instance, has a DraftKings sportsbook right outside the gates of the stadium.
So what if a handful of athletes get suspended, right? How is that a sign of a larger problem? Well, you’ve got to look at the potential impact if players start to take it on themselves to shave a few rebounds or make an error in a blowout game to complete a bet. It’s a very slippery slope and one that could be costly for the integrity of the sport. Back in 1919, when the Chicago White Sox were suspended for throwing the World Series, the die was cast. Gambling was going to be a part of sports no matter what and players shall not partake. Period. I fear that another major event like the Black Sox scandal will need to happen before players take this truly to heart.
In summary, sports betting isn’t just about entertainment; it has real-world consequences. As leagues grapple with these challenges, it’s essential to strike a balance between promoting responsible gambling and safeguarding the integrity of sports. Players, fans, and industry stakeholders must recognize the perils and act accordingly to maintain the spirit of fair competition. Of note: We are only about 75 days away from the start of a new NFL season and the Landmark’s “Pick ‘Em” weekly picks game. Please gamble responsibly.
(Get more from Chris Kamler on Twitter, or whatever the kids are calling it these days, where you can find him as @TheFakeNed)