Sports betting is having a big moment across the United States. While gambling on sports has been legal for decades in countries such as the U.K., it wasnt until 2018 that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could legalize sports betting. Before then, sports betting had been permitted only in Nevada.
After the Supreme Court decision, the floodgates opened. Many states were happy to legalize sports gambling, enticed by the opportunity for more tax revenue. As of May 2024, sports gambling is legal in 38 states and Washington, D.C. Americans wagered nearly US$120 billion on sports in 2023 alone.
Until about 10 years ago, sports leagues in North America were apprehensive about if not totally against legalizing sports betting. The long history of sports gambling scandals in the U.S. led many to worry that legalizing sports betting would tarnish their sports credibility and image. The NCAA was one of many governing bodies that objected to legalizing sports gambling nationwide.
But now that the Supreme Court has blessed it, sports leagues have embraced gambling, forming partnerships with brands like Caesars Entertainment. The sportsbooks and platforms have integrity monitors to track potential inconsistencies. Still, a number of scandals involving athletes and the people around them have emerged since the Supreme Court ruling.
As a professor of critical sports studies, I teach students about the history of sports betting scandals. And I think they offer lessons for the present day.
The Black Sox Scandal of 1919 helped to further organize baseball, leading to the creation of the position of commissioner of baseball, which was first assumed by former judge and known racist Kennesaw Mountain Landis. Along with maintaining the color line, arguably his most notable action was banning, for life, the players on the Chicago White Sox involved in the fixing of the 1919 World Series.
Early professional baseball regulations explicitly banned gambling, but the money was too tempting for many players to ignore and that included members of the 1919 White Sox. The players hated the teams owner, Charles Comiskey, and felt that they were underpaid. But they were unable to change teams due to the reserve clause in their contracts, which gave owners exclusive rights to their players in perpetuity.
A faction of the team agreed to throw the World Series. Those players were ultimately indicted by a grand jury and went to trial. They were acquitted of criminal charges, but Landis suspended all of the players connected to the fix including superstar Shoeless Joe Jackson, who admitted taking money from a teammate but maintained he was innocent of game fixing.
This was the the most notable of several attempts to fix baseball games early in the 20th century, as the game grew in popularity and a number of people associated with baseball, including players, managers and even umpires, looked to cash in.
Athlete salaries have soared in recent decades. However, this money hasnt shielded players and others involved in sports from the grips of gambling addiction.
There are no rules banning athletes from sitting at a blackjack table or even gambling on other sports. Numerous players have wagered millions of dollars, with some athletes building up massive debts due to addiction.
These debts can lead to such desperation that athletes decide to risk their careers. Baseball legend and admitted compulsive gambler Pete Rose continues to sit outside the Hall of Fame because he bet on baseball games.
The most substantial gambling scandal in modern sports came in the NBA during the 2000s, involving referee Tim Donaghy. He admitted to providing information on NBA games, including those he officiated, which allegedly influenced his calls. Donaghy served time in prison as a result. So it isnt just players who get in trouble.
There have been several major point-shaving scandals in college basketball history, most famously at the City College of New York in the 1950s and at Boston College in the late 1970s the latter of which involved Henry Hill, the subject of the blockbuster film Goodfellas.
The increasing use of prop, or proposition, bets, which focus on a specific outcome within a game rather than the overall result, has created a new point of vulnerability for student-athletes. While influencing an entire team is hard, history shows that individual players are more susceptible to pressure. A point guard or quarterback can slow down the game and reduce the margin of victory.
And while todays unpaid student-athletes have the same financial incentives to cheat as earlier generations did, they face a new pressure: Theyre often surrounded by gamblers on campus and on social media. Betting is pervasive not only at large universities but at smaller schools, too. According to NCAA surveys, 1 in 3 student-athletes have faced harassment from gamblers, ranging from derogatory comments to death threats.
The sportsbooks have very little incentive to address potential violations, so its up to organizations that oversee sports to ensure the integrity of their games.
NCAA President Charlie Bakers suggestion to ban prop bets is a good first step: The more individual players and gameplay are isolated, the easier it is for improprieties to occur.
Providing more guidance for players and different types of punishments for different transgressions could also be useful. Gambling violations that dont affect competition outcomes should be treated differently from ones that do. The NCAA already does this by meting out lighter penalties for student-athletes who wager on other teams and sports as opposed to their own.
Providing treatment for players and others suffering from gambling addiction would be helpful as well, and theres some evidence that open discussions of gambling addiction in European soccer have had a positive impact.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has suggested implementing federal oversight to eliminate the uncertainty of state-by-state regulations. Although scandals are still likely to occur, gambling commissions like the one in the U.K. can provide a framework for federal licensing and oversight.
The suddenness of states adopting sports betting has led to a windfall of profit for gambling companies and tax revenue for the states. But it may also endanger the integrity of sports. As policymakers mull how to address the issue, they might be wise to learn from history.
Visit link:
- Gambling Addiction and Problem Gambling: Learn How to Stop ... - December 12th, 2016 [December 12th, 2016]
- Remote Gambling Association (RGA) - December 16th, 2016 [December 16th, 2016]
- William Hill Casino Club - Up To 150 Casino Bonus - December 19th, 2016 [December 19th, 2016]
- Gambling - The New York Times - December 31st, 2016 [December 31st, 2016]
- Trusted Online Gambling Sites Since 1996 - Online.Gambling.org - January 7th, 2017 [January 7th, 2017]
- Casino Gambling Web | Best Online Gambling News and Casinos ... - January 11th, 2017 [January 11th, 2017]
- Gambling Addiction and Problem Gambling - helpguide.org - January 15th, 2017 [January 15th, 2017]
- Industry: Crackdown on illegal gambling in the Philippines now ... - GamingTodaySlotsToday - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Military should screen for gambling disorder, GAO says - Virginian-Pilot - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Gambling with people's autonomy | Liberties | Risk | spiked - Spiked - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Bill introduced to lower age for legal gambling in Nevada - Las Vegas Review-Journal - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- FIFA YouTuber Pleads Guilty To Gambling Charges [UPDATE] - GameSpot - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Gambling Stock Roundup: Macau Sales Rise Again in January, Nevada Records a Drop in December - Yahoo Finance - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Super Bowl sets gambling record at Nevada sports books - Reuters - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Older gamblers face worse odds for addiction - Times Herald-Record - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- How to Handle Gambling Wins and Losses This Tax Season - TheStreet.com - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- GAO report recommends military members be screened for ... - wtkr.com - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- The Newest Challenge in Gambling: Finding Growth - Motley Fool - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Raising a question about gambling prohibition - Dothan Eagle - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- A Creepy Dude Is Your Inner Gambling Addict in These Horrifying PSAs From Tom Tagholm - Fishbowl NY (blog) - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Super Bowl Betting Tally Helps Make the Case for Legalized Sports Gambling - TheStreet.com - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- MLB commissioner admits the league is rethinking its stance on gambling - FOXSports.com - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Why I love fake gambling and in-game casinos according to a psychologist - PC Gamer - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- YouTubers fined for running illegal FIFA 17 gambling site - Ars Technica - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Deducting Gambling Losses on Your Taxes - TheStreet.com - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Gambling pot grows for Madison County - Utica Observer Dispatch - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- How Vietnam Is Changing Its Gambling Rules To Win Foreign Investment - Forbes - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- No truth to alleged link between missing Spencerport teen, illegal gambling - 13WHAM-TV - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- The world's biggest gamblers - The Economist (blog) - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Idaho House Panel Introduces Bill Limiting Indian Gambling - Boise State Public Radio - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Pennsylvania Omnibus Gambling Bill Presented to House - Casino.Org News - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Gamblers caught in Hat Yai open-air casino bust | Bangkok Post: news - Bangkok Post - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Men Fined Over FIFA Gambling Operation - Card Player - CardPlayer.com - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Rob Manfred may change MLB's stance on gambling - SB Nation - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Do you have a mobile gambling/gaming problem? - KMTV - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- OUR VIEW: Transparency needed in gambling operations - Pacific Daily News - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- New York State transformation into the gambling big leagues nearly complete with opening of newest casino - The Daily Freeman - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Kenya: Gambling in Kenya Gets Out of Hand - AllAfrica.com - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Gambling Responsibly - New York Times - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Duterte targets illegal gambling in the Philippines - Yahoo News - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- US Grabs Biggest Global Gambling Industry Win Share in 2016 - Casino News Daily - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- UFC 208 odds, gambling guide - MMA Fighting - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- Calendar urges gamblers to cut their losses l Dayton, Ohio - Dayton Daily News - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- Gambling Manga "Akagi" Begins Countdown to Conclusion - Crunchyroll News - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- Football's gambling problem: You better, you better, you bet - Football365.com - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- States are gambling with law enforcement safety - The Hill (blog) - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- AFL's gambling ads concern for Cats star - Wide World of Sports - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Celeb Gambling Ring Members Fear They've Been CAUGHT On Wiretaps Making Illegal Bets, Source Claims - Radar Online - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Highway Patrol: Raid of Warren bar uncovers illegal gambling - WKBN.com - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Scary graph shows how Australians are the biggest losers - NEWS.com.au - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Bato: War on illegal gambling won't be bloody - Philippine Star - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Last holdout Lakewood to vote on repealing video gambling ban - Northwest Herald - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- AFL's gambling ads a concern for Geelong Cats star Harry Taylor - The Age - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Online Casinos Generate A Third Of UK Gambling Dollars - CardPlayer.com - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Darlington deputies bust gambling house in Hartsville | News ... - SCNow - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Kim Jong Un's gambling half-brother reportedly assassinated - CBS News - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- BitcoinCasino.us Ensures Instant Payouts and Responsible Gambling - newsBTC - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Gambling operators are cashing in on teens' addiction to online games - The Canberra Times - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Americans Lost $116.9B Gambling In 2016: Report - CardPlayer.com - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Levine: Rick Hahn, White Sox Gambling On Right Trades At Right Time - CBS Local - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Wesfarmers considers pokies exit in bid to tackle problem gambling - ABC Online - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Massive felony gambling raid in Marietta | WAGA - FOX 5 Atlanta - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- 'War on gambling' starts with small fry - Inquirer.net - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Edgeless Casino Introduces Revolutionary Transparent 0% House Edge Online Gambling - newsBTC - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- FF12: When is gambling illegal in Kansas? - KWCH - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Osage woman accused of stealing, gambling mother's money - Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- 'Operation Parlay' Leads To Gambling Raid, Arrest - Patch.com - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Pete Rose defends legal gambling: 'Who am I hurting?' - Yahoo Sports - Yahoo Sports - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Cops bust alleged gambling ring being run out of Cobb storefronts - Atlanta Journal Constitution - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Dunlap: State Rep. Gets It Right With Sports Gambling - CBS Local - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Gambling Addiction Treatment Center, Rehab - Non Gambler - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Problem Gambling Online Resources - Drugfreeinfo.org - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Attleboro seeks gambling grant for new dispatch center - The Sun Chronicle - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- House gambling bill teed up for next week - SaintPetersBlog (blog) - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Firms oppose Bill regulating gambling - Daily Nation - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Tim Simona faces NRL deregistration after alleged breaches of gambling rules - The Sydney Morning Herald - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Washington State Gambling Commission - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Online Casino USA Friendly Online Casinos for 2017 - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Records: 70 gambling machines seized, two arrested in Alamo raid ... - KGBT-TV - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Florida House Goes Conservative on Gambling Expansion with New ... - Casino News Daily - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]