Let’s talk sports betting.
OK, most of us have bet with a buddy on the outcome of a game, a boxing match, an election, or who wins that golf match on Saturday morning. Many of us have gone to Las Vegas or Atlantic City and placed legal wagers on horse races, NCAA March Madness matchups, or all manners of sporting events.
I won’t get into the morals or the pros and cons of gambling or gambling addiction, but in the past, all American major sports have distanced themselves from gambling, though each sport recognizes and plays footsie with point spreads, over-unders and odds, while maintaining the “integrity” of the game.
In the past, pro sports organizations worried about players shaving points or manipulating game outcomes, but as players now make millions of dollars as it is, the governing bodies monitor gambling habits of players without being overly concerned about ill deeds on the field, though cheating is still frowned upon – see the Houston Astros, for example.
In baseball prior to 1920, a dozen players were banned for association with gambling or attempting to fix games. In addition to the eight Chicago “Black Sox” players sent packing for involvement in a gambling “fix” – lots of evidence, though they were acquitted in court – Commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis banned 11 others for gambling implications.
In 1980 and 1983, Commissioner Bowie Kuhn banned retired superstars Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle after they were hired by Atlantic City casinos as “greeters.” No gambling involved. In football, Paul Hornung, Joe Namath and Alex Karras were banned for gambling or association with gamblers.
On August 23, 1989, as punishment for betting on baseball, Cincinnati Reds manager Pete Rose accepted a settlement that included a lifetime ban from the game.
There was a 2007 NBA gambling scandal, and all major sports have had those banishments and scandals. That was then, and while the integrity of the games is still foremost in the minds of sports leaders and they are finding new ways to make sure teams don’t “tank” to gain higher draft choices, the environment has changed.
Today, DraftKings is now a co-exclusive official sports betting partner of MLB, joining BetMGM. As part of the expanded relationship, DraftKings remains the exclusive official daily fantasy sports partner of MLB. In fact, DraftKings now includes live streaming in agreement and sponsorship with MLB.
And you can hardly watch any sport on TV without seeing an ad from legal betting online or at casinos. FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesar’s, WynnBet, PointsBet, Bet365 and others sponsor sports broadcasts. Legal sports betting is a multi-billion dollar industry, and the major sports organizations want their cut. Today, sportscasters on all major sports broadcasts hawk betting, odds and point spreads. As the legal relationships between gambling enterprises and major sports continue to evolve, and as our litigious society allows for lawsuits on just about anything, one can only wonder if bettors will have recourse on arguable “mishandled” moves on the field.
DraftKings sued the Yankees to make private letters public on implications that some on-field behavior cost some of their bettors unaffected outcomes. Can that lead to other lawsuits? Can a bettor sue a coach for going for the field goal when he needs a touchdown to cover the point spread he bet? Or sue the kicker for shanking one, when you needed that three? Sue that basketball player for passing when he could have scored that layup for you? Sue the hockey coach for pulling the goalie as the other team gets an empty-netter?
Can you sue a manager for resting a player when you bet him to hit a homer that day? Can you sue a manager for issuing a walk when you need that player to hit? Can you sue a player for not stretching a single into a double, or for bunting against the shift when you need that homer? Sue that QB for throwing one up for grabs and it gets intercepted? Can you sue an athlete for NOT coming through for you?
Can you sue an umpire for making a bad balls-and-strikes call that sends your batter down erroneously? Personally, I’d like in on that one.
The answer to all of these questions is “no” … for now, But tomorrow? Don’t bet against it.
It’s a sure bet that you have an opinion on this. What do you think? Give me an email at mike.blake@mountvernonnews.com and let’s talk sports.
See you next time.
