MLB Commissioner Continues Crusade Against Sports Betting
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has once again spoken out on the stance of sports organizations regarding the legalization of sports betting across the U.S. “We went to the Supreme Court trying to stop sports betting in New Jersey,” admits Manfred.
“We Were Dragged Into Legalized Sports Betting”
Despite the repeal of PASPA six years ago, the legalization of sports betting continues to stir controversy in the sports community. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has been vocal on this issue, stating some time ago that he never wanted sports betting to spread beyond Nevada.
“We were kind of dragged into legalized sports betting as a litigant in a case that ended up in the Supreme Court,” Manfred said back in May.
Manfred continues to stand firm in his position, once again voicing his opinion on sports betting, claiming that it was forcibly imposed on baseball from the top down.
The MLB Commissioner emphasizes the importance of integrity, referencing the case of Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter, who stole money to fund sports bets. In recent years, scandals involving the darker side of sports betting have even affected league stars.
“It’s important to say that our number one issue, the single thing on which there is no compromise, is the integrity of the game on the field,” he said.
Sports Betting as Major Convenience?
Manfred acknowledges that a positive aspect of the legalization of sports betting is the ability to monitor for irregularities and catch bets placed by individuals who shouldn’t be betting.
The commissioner softens his stance somewhat by stating that the absence of scandals involving players betting prior to 2018 doesn’t mean such incidents didn’t occur, but rather that there was a lack of means to track them.
“In the era when all sports betting was illegal, it was impossible to monitor. Now, because sports betting is legal, we have extensive monitoring in place,” added MLB Commissioner.
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