There’s been a string of scandals in the sports world surrounding sports betting in recent months. Those incidents have also raised questions in this country on the legalization of betting and the involvement of leagues and teams working alongside betting operators. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred weighed in during the 2024 Associated Press Sports Editors Commissioners Meetings.
What Manfred Thinks about Sports Betting in MLB
At the meeting, Manfred mentioned some of the things he has been dealing with, including the high-profile case of Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter, who was accused of stealing millions to illegally gamble. His remarks were surprising to some when he said that Sports betting was never supposed to be fully integrated into the Major League Baseball.
He mentioned MLB’s participation in the Christie/Murphy, et al. v. NCAA, et al. case. This case resulted in a 2018 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that invalidated the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). As a result, states were now free to legalize sports gambling.
Impact on Game Integrity
Despite some initial resistance from MLB, sports wagering has written its own narrative of pros and cons. Manfred pointed to sports betting’s boost in television and streaming viewership. But he also emphasized the need to preserve the integrity of the game.
One of the specific challenges is with player prop bets — wagers that are tied to the performance of individual players. Those types of bets are opposed by both MLB and the NCAA, Manfred said. They argue that these bets can raise the risk of manipulation, which tarnishes the credibility of the sport. But he did say legalized sports betting allows for better monitoring of atypical activity, which should help identify potential problems sooner.
MLB’s Evolving Role in Gambling
While Manfred said MLB was “dragged into” the betting industry, the league has developed strong links to the major operators. An official deal was signed between MLB and MGM Resorts in 2018. Not long after, it joined forces with FanDuel and DraftKings, naming them its official sports betting partners.
Most MLB teams have attributed partnerships with sportsbooks in place now. These partnerships are a testament to MLB’s recognition of the increasingly prominent role betting plays and its potential to create deeper engagement with fans.
MLB's Evolving Position
Manfred’s recent remarks are indicative of MLB’s evolving position. Somewhat reluctantly, the league embraced the opportunities, however. But preserving integrity of the game — particularly around new betting formats — still tops the agenda.
Balancing Growth and Responsibility as the Sports Betting Industry Grows in the MLB Future league strategies will likely work to balance fan interest, integrity, and operator collaboration.
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