Before Tuesday’s All-Star Game, Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred had a lengthy news conference in which he made revealing comments about sports gambling.
Sports commissioners, coaches, and players have expressed their concerns about the issue since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal ban on sports gambling in May 2018.
Manfred did not cite specific instances of threats to player safety but acknowledged that it has been a recurring topic of discussion.
“If a player receives a threat from any source, on any topic, it is a matter of concern to us that we take really seriously,” Manfred stated, per ESPN.com. “I’ve had players in the last month mention this issue to me as one of concern, and we’re discussing what we should do to be more proactive in this area.”
Since the Supreme Court decision, 38 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have legalized sports gambling in some form. Leagues and teams have partnered with sportsbooks, with several teams operating sportsbooks out of their home stadiums. Advertisements litter broadcasts and dot arenas, which raises the question: Are all of these headaches worth the money for leagues and teams?
MLB, a league with a history of gambling scandals such as the Chicago Black Sox and Pete Rose, faced major trouble earlier this season when Ippei Mizuhara, former interpreter for Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud charges after embezzling money from Ohtani to cover gambling debts.
In June, MLB issued a lifetime ban to Tucupita Marcano of the San Diego Padres for gambling while playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Four other players received a one-year suspension as well.
The NBA banned former Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter for life after discovering that he bet on Raptors games and disclosed confidential health information to bettors. Former Cleveland Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff also reported receiving threats from gamblers in 2023 and informed the league. The Cavaliers have a sports book in their arena.
