Gambling Problems and Pro Sports Athletes
By
Dan Holmes
Contributor Updated: 26 July 2024
Dan Holmes Contributor
Dan Holmes, a content creator and sports betting enthusiast, brings over a decade of experience to Betting.US. His extensive writing background spans from the internet to prestigious roles at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Dan’s articles, featured on numerous websites, cover various sports, from bowling to disc golf.
Athletes Gambling
In recent years, the intersection of professional sports and gambling has come under increasing scrutiny. While betting on games has long been a pastime for fans, a troubling trend has emerged involving athletes gambling themselves. This behavior not only jeopardizes their careers but also raises ethical and integrity concerns within their sports.
The allure of quick financial gain and the thrill of risk-taking can lead to devastating consequences, both personally and professionally, for these athletes. As gambling becomes more accessible and widespread, it’s essential to understand the underlying causes of gambling problems among pro sports athletes and explore measures to mitigate this growing issue.
This article delves into the impact of gambling on athletes, the risks involved, and the steps needed to address this critical problem.
The Risks of Partnerships Between Sportsbooks and Professional Sports Leagues
In recent years, professional sports leagues have increasingly embraced partnerships with sports betting operators, reflecting the growing legalization and acceptance of sports gambling. These partnerships, which often include sponsorship deals, data-sharing agreements, and marketing collaborations, have created lucrative new revenue streams for leagues.
For instance, major leagues like the NFL, NBA, and MLB have inked deals with prominent betting companies, integrating betting odds into broadcasts and promoting gambling through various channels. However, while these partnerships offer financial benefits, they also present potentially dangerous situations.
Heightened Scrutiny from Gamblers
One significant concern is the heightened scrutiny athletes face from gamblers. The proliferation of betting means that every action an athlete takes on and off the field is watched closely by those with financial stakes in the outcome. This intense scrutiny can lead to undue pressure on athletes, impacting their performance and mental health.
Aggravation of Existing Gambling Problems
Moreover, these partnerships can exacerbate existing athletes gambling problems. With the normalization of gambling through league endorsements, athletes may feel more inclined to participate in betting activities themselves, despite the clear regulations against it.
The ease of access and the pervasive gambling culture can lead to scenarios where athletes gambling in sports becomes a pressing issue. Instances of athletes being investigated or penalized for betting on games, whether their own or others, can tarnish the integrity of sports and erode public trust.
Risk of Underminig the Fairness of Competition
The risk extends beyond individual athletes to the leagues as a whole. Allegations or evidence of athletes gambling can lead to scandals, undermine the fairness of competition, and attract regulatory scrutiny. This precarious situation necessitates robust measures from leagues to educate athletes about the risks of gambling, enforce strict regulations, and provide support for those struggling with gambling addiction.
Most Recent Sports Betting Scandals
While partnerships between professional sports leagues and sports betting operators bring financial advantages, they also create complex challenges. The potential for increased scrutiny from gamblers and the exacerbation of athletes gambling problems must be carefully managed to protect their well-being and the integrity of sports.
Leagues must balance the commercial benefits of these partnerships with the need to uphold ethical standards and support their players. Nearly every pro sports league has rules against athletes betting on their own sport. Yet, such integrity scandals arise even in current times.
The Jontay Porter Case
During the 2023-24 NBA season, it was revealed that Jontay Porter of the Toronto Raptors had wagered on his own player props odds markets and chosen to remove himself from games to influence the outcome of those bets. Subsequently, Porter was banned from the NBA.
A handful of players have been caught betting live on NFL games and have been suspended as a result. A few college athletes have also been disciplined. So far, Porter’s situation has been the most severe, but the NBA’s swift response and discipline helped stave off questions about the legitimacy of the games being played on the court.
Some experts say it’s only a matter of time before a major betting scandal engulfs a sport in the age of legal sports betting. However, the Porter betting incident has proven that regulatory oversight is a protective layer around these professional sports and athletes. It was DraftKings Sportsbook that first reported the suspicious betting activity around Porter’s odds.
The Shohei Ohtani’s Case
In 2024, it came to light that two-time MLB Most Valuable Player Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter had placed bets with an illegal bookmaker in California. The interpreter paid more than $15 million to the illegal bookie with funds he stole from Ohtani.
The embarrassing situation was another example of how the allure of sports betting can lead an addictive and potentially nefarious personality to make poor decisions. Ohtani has not been implicated in the gambling scandal, but MLB was placed in a precarious situation, having to defend its biggest star from accusations.
Historical Sports Betting Scandals
As long as there have been sporting events, there have likely been people willing to wager money on the outcome. Many athletes in the past have been famous for exhibiting addictive behaviors and problem gambling habits. Michael Jordan famously gambled at Las Vegas casinos whenever he had the chance and reportedly wagered hundreds of thousands of dollars on single golf shots when he was an active NBA star.
His friend and teammate from the U.S. Olympic “Dream Team,” Charles Barkley, has admitted to losing tens of millions gambling on sports, in casinos, and playing golf. Often fueled by competitive juices, pro athletes frequently seek out the adrenaline rush of gambling when they are not between the lines or on the athletic field or court. As a result, some infamous sports betting scandals were born.
The Pete Rose Betting Scandal
The Pete Rose betting scandal remains one of the most notorious cases of athletes caught gambling in sports history. Pete Rose, an iconic baseball player and manager for the Cincinnati Reds, was found to have bet on Major League Baseball games, including those involving his own team, during the 1980s. Despite his denials for years, an investigation revealed extensive evidence of his gambling activities.
In 1989, Rose accepted a permanent place on baseball’s ineligible list, effectively ending his career in baseball and barring him from Hall of Fame consideration. This scandal rocked the sports world, highlighting the serious consequences of athletes gambling. Rose’s case underscored the importance of maintaining the integrity of sports and prompted stricter regulations and oversight to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Black Sox Scandal
The 1919 World Series betting scandal, known as the Black Sox Scandal, is a pivotal moment in sports history that questioned, “Can athletes bet on themselves?” Eight members of the Chicago White Sox were accused of intentionally losing the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for money from a gambling syndicate.
This unprecedented event shocked the nation and cast a dark shadow over baseball’s integrity. Despite their acquittal in court, the players were banned for life from professional baseball by Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who sought to restore the sport’s credibility.
The scandal prompted stricter regulations and a zero-tolerance policy towards gambling among players, emphasizing that athletes betting on themselves or their games undermine the very foundation of fair competition. This incident remains a stark reminder of the potential dangers gambling poses to sports integrity.
The Tim Donaghy Scandal
The Tim Donaghy betting scandal rocked the NBA in the mid-2000s, revealing vulnerabilities within professional sports to corruption. Tim Donaghy, an NBA referee, was found to have bet on games he officiated, raising serious questions about the integrity of the league.
From 2005 to 2007, Donaghy provided inside information to gamblers and influenced game outcomes through his calls, compromising the fairness of the sport. His actions were discovered through an FBI investigation, leading to his resignation and subsequent imprisonment for 15 months on charges of conspiracy to engage in wire fraud and transmitting betting information.
The scandal not only tarnished Donaghy’s career but also cast a shadow over the NBA’s reputation. It highlighted the critical need for rigorous oversight and transparency within professional sports to prevent such breaches of trust and ensure the integrity of the game remains intact.
The Point Shaving Scandal of 1978
College sports are not immune to athletes gambling problems. A late 1970s point shaving scandal in college basketball involved players from several prominent universities, including Boston College, who conspired with gamblers to manipulate game scores. In exchange for bribes, players intentionally kept game margins within betting spreads, undermining the sport’s integrity.
The scandal came to light through an FBI investigation, revealing the deep infiltration of organized crime into college sports. This incident led to stricter NCAA regulations and increased scrutiny of athlete behavior, emphasizing the importance of preserving the fairness and authenticity of collegiate athletics. The scandal remains a cautionary tale about the dangers of gambling in sports.
The Bright Side
As legal sports betting spreads across the United States and internationally, it’s likely we will hear about athletes gambling problems and athletes gambling in sports. But, now that the activity is regulated in so many areas, these issues are simply coming out into the light, as opposed to being kept in the dark for decades when illegal bookmakers attracted athletes to gambling.
