Major League Baseball has announced that its approved betting partners will now place a cap of $200 US on individual pitch bets and will exclude them from combination bets, following allegations of pitch manipulation involving two Cleveland Guardians players. The league stated on Monday that sportsbook operators representing over 98 percent of the U.S. betting market have agreed to these limits. MLB emphasized that wagers on specific pitch outcomes like pitch speed and balls/strikes pose integrity risks due to their reliance on isolated events that can be influenced by a single player and may not impact the game’s overall result significantly.
To address these concerns, MLB has implemented measures to reduce the risk of misconduct in pitch-level betting markets. By setting a strict betting limit on these types of bets and prohibiting them from being combined in parlays, the league aims to lower the potential payouts and deter attempts to circumvent the restrictions.
Pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz from the Cleveland Guardians were recently indicted on charges related to accepting bribes from sports bettors to manipulate their pitching performances. The indictments include various fraud and conspiracy charges, with potential penalties of up to 20 years in prison. Both players have denied the accusations through their legal representatives.
In response to the growing concerns over sports betting integrity, the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling paved the way for states to legalize sports gambling. Ortiz, who was arrested by the FBI at Boston Logan International Airport, and Clase, who is reportedly outside the U.S., have been on non-disciplinary paid leave since MLB initiated an investigation into suspicious betting activities during their games.
Ortiz, 26, was granted release under strict conditions, including surrendering his passport and posting a substantial bond. The ongoing investigation involves collaboration between MLB and law enforcement agencies to address the allegations of betting-related misconduct in professional sports. The Guardians have pledged full cooperation with the investigations as they unfold.
The recent developments involving the allegations of pitch manipulation and betting scandals in professional sports underscore the heightened scrutiny and enforcement efforts to maintain the integrity of sports competitions. In a similar vein, the NBA also faced a recent crackdown on illegal gambling activities, leading to multiple arrests, including notable figures within the basketball community.