On May 14, 2018, just after 10 a.m. ET, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, a federal law that had restricted legal gambling primarily to Nevada for 26 years. I made it.
This was a landmark decision for two of America's favorite pastimes: sports and gambling.
States took little time to set up and tax legal sports betting markets, and professional leagues quickly formed partnerships with bookmakers to bet on games. Six years later, legal gambling markets exist in 39 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, and bettors have already wagered more than $330 billion at new state-sponsored sportsbooks. However, as the stakes have increased, so have the controversies stemming from gambling.
In the past two years, dozens of professional and college athletes and coaches have been suspended or fired for gambling violations, and at least one gambler has pleaded guilty to obstruction charges related to the college baseball gambling scandal. In early 2024, two investigations into suspicious betting involving Temple men's basketball and prop betting involving Toronto Raptors reserve center Jontay Porter were launched. The NBA announced Wednesday after an investigation found Porter divulged confidential information to bettors, restricted him from at least one game during his time with the Raptors, and bet on NBA games while playing in the G League. The player was permanently banned.
The gaming industry and sports leagues say the legal system is working because greater visibility into the betting taking place helps spot anomalies. However, incidents such as players placing bets on games they are involved in continue to occur.
Meanwhile, the underground betting market, which has existed in the United States since sports existed, continues to thrive, with unlicensed bookmakers offering credit and attracting some high-profile customers who prefer more anonymity. Ippei Mizuhara, a former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, was fired in March for using such a bookmaker. Last week, Mizuhara turned himself in to authorities after prosecutors alleged he stole more than $16 million from Otani's account.
Two major states, California and Texas, have yet to legalize sports betting, so there's plenty of room for growth in the U.S. market and the public's continued interest in gambling. How big the American gambling market will become is anyone's guess. But perhaps the safest bet is that there will be more controversy. — David Purdum
2018
May 14, 2018: Supreme Court strikes down federal ban on sports betting
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to strike down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, a 1992 law that banned state-sanctioned sports gambling (Nevada was largely the only exception). The ruling ends a nearly six-year legal battle and opens the door for all states interested in legalizing sports betting.
2019
November 29, 2019: NFL suspends Josh Shaw indefinitely
Josh Shaw, while on injured reserve, became the first active player to be suspended for betting on a league game. He openly placed a bet at a Las Vegas sportsbook as part of a parlay against his team at the time, the Arizona Cardinals.
2020
September 8, 2020: University of Colorado signs sponsorship agreement with Denver-based PointsBet
A five-year agreement between the state of Colorado and PointsBet allows the sports betting operator to display billboards at football stadiums and basketball arenas in Colorado, as well as place advertisements in other media such as radio broadcasts. Admitted.
2021
May 26, 2021: Capital One Arena in Washington becomes the first professional sports arena in the U.S. with a fully operational sportsbook.
Monumental Sports, owner of the Washington Wizards, Washington Mystics and Washington Capitals, has agreed to a 10-year agreement with William Hill Sportsbook.
October 8, 2021: Sporting KC's Felipe Hernandez suspended for betting on MLS matches
An independent investigation launched in July 2021 found that Hernandez engaged in “large-scale illegal sports gambling” as a member of Sporting Kansas City, including betting on MLS games. Hernandez reported the gambling to the team on July 5, stating that he feared for his safety due to the debts he had accumulated.
2022
March 7, 2022: NFL suspends Calvin Ridley for one year
Ridley, then a receiver for the Atlanta Falcons, was suspended for at least the entire 2022 season after the NFL determined he gambled during a five-day game in November 2021 while on the non-football injured list. received. Sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter that this stretch included betting on multi-leg parlays, including a Falcons win. He returned in March 2023.
December 23, 2022: New York Jets wide receiver coach Myles Austin is suspended for one year.
Jets wide receivers coach Miles Austin has been suspended for at least a year for violating NFL gambling rules. The league had launched an investigation into violations of the NFL's personnel gambling regulations after it was discovered that Austin was betting on sports rather than NFL games or college football.
2023
January 19, 2023: UFC tightens gambling rules, hires honest companies amid pre-fight investigation into suspicious gambling activity
The UFC added stricter language regarding betting to its fight code of conduct and hired sports betting monitoring firm US Integrity. The change stemmed from suspicious betting patterns related to the UFC fight between Darrick Miner and Shaylan Nurdanbike.
March 29, 2023: University of Colorado and PointsBet end partnership three years early
Colorado State and Sportsbet announced in a joint statement that it is “mutually beneficial” to end their nearly three-year partnership. A day earlier, the American Gaming Association released revised guidelines recommending against similar partnerships between sportsbooks and universities.
April 21, 2023: Jameson Williams is among five NFL players suspended for gambling.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephas, safety CJ Moore and Washington Commanders defensive end Shaka Toney were suspended indefinitely for gambling on NFL games, while Jameson Williams and Stanley Berry Hill was suspended for six games for mobile gambling at the Lions' Allen Park facility. However, Williams and Berryhill did not bet on NFL games.
May 4, 2023: Alabama fires head baseball coach Brad Bohannon for involvement in suspicious betting.
Ohio gambling regulators initially suspended betting on college baseball games after suspicious gambling activity was detected during LSU's game against the University of Alabama. Federal prosecutors have alleged that Bart Neff, an Indiana businessman and youth baseball coach, contacted Bohannon before the Alabama-LSU baseball game and advanced a bet that the Crimson Tide would lose. Alabama fired Bohannon six days after the bet was called off.
May 8, 2023: Iowa – Iowa Gambling Investigation Begins
The University of Iowa and Iowa State University have accused more than 30 athletes in baseball, football, men's basketball, men's track and field, and wrestling, as well as a full-time employee of the Iowa State Athletic Department, of violating NCAA gambling regulations. Announced. About sports.
June 29, 2023: NFL suspends 4 players for gambling violations (3 of them betting on their own team)
Indianapolis Colts forwards Isaiah Rodgers Sr. and Rashod Berry and free agent Demetrius Taylor have been suspended by the NFL through at least the 2023 season for betting on 2022 NFL games. But Rodgers said the bet he made was for someone else. He declined to be identified.
Read: Inside the NFL's gambling policy and the rise in violations
September 29, 2023: Jameson Williams returns after NFL adjusts gambling policy
The NFL has changed its gambling rules, imposing harsher penalties for players who bet on their own team, with at least a two-year suspension, and a one-year suspension for players who bet on NFL games. did. . Players who bet on sports other than the NFL while on team facilities or on team-related travel face a two-game suspension for the first violation, six games for the second violation, and at least one year for the third violation. It turns out.
read: NFL players discuss gambling policy amid gambling violations
October 26, 2023: NHL player Shane Pinto suspended for 41 games for gambling.
It's unclear how Ottawa Senators center Shane Pinto violated the NHL's sports betting regulations, but the Ottawa Sun reports that Pitino has an online gambling account in the U.S. and has reported “unusual activity.” '' was flagged by the NHL's integrity protection partners.
October 27, 2023: Two Korn Ferry Tour golfers suspended for sports betting
PGA Tour feeder tour participants Vince India and Jake Staiano were suspended for three and six months, respectively, for betting on PGA Tour competitions. Neither was betting on the tournaments they entered.
2024
January 25, 2024: Patriots' Kayshon Boot arrested for illegal gambling at LSU
Louisiana State Police say wide receiver Kayshon Boot's charges include a felony count of computer fraud and a misdemeanor count of gambling under 21, but additional charges are pending as the investigation continues. He said that there is a possibility that the Boutte is accused of using a false name to evade age requirements for sports betting in Louisiana and placing bets between April 6, 2022, when he was 20 years old, and May 7, 2023. .
March 8, 2024: Temple reviews reports of unusual gambling activity
Monitoring firm US Integrity issued a warning for unusual betting activity on at least one Temple men's basketball game, prompting sportsbooks including Caesars Sportsbook and FanDuel to halt bets on the game. .
March 12, 2024: Former Jaguars employee Amit Patel sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison for fraud
Amit Patel pleaded guilty to stealing $22 million from the team. Patel stole the money over three and a half years, transferring approximately $20 million to FanDuel, $1 million to DraftKings, and using the remaining stolen money for various other expenses.
March 20, 2024: Dodgers fire Shohei Ohtani's interpreter Ippei Mizuhara on suspicion of “mass theft” stemming from gambling debts.
Ippei Mizuhara was fired after questions began to arise over wire transfers of at least $4.5 million sent from Shohei Ohtani's bank account to a bookbinding company under federal investigation. A spokesperson for Ohtani initially told ESPN that Ohtani transferred the funds to cover Mizuwon's gambling debts.
Read: Shohei Otani, his interpretation and wire transfers: Timeline
March 25, 2024: NBA focuses on Raptors' Jontay Porter over betting issue
Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter is under investigation by the NBA for allegedly placing prop bets on games he was involved in on January 26 and March 20, multiple sources told ESPN. It is said that he is receiving
March 27, 2024: NCAA president calls for ban on college prop gambling
NCAA President Charlie Baker is calling for a ban on college prop bets. Baker said this was to protect the “integrity and competition” of the game and to stop harassment of student and professional athletes.
April 11, 2024: Federal prosecutors say Mizuhara stole more than $16 million from Otani
Federal authorities have filed charges of bank fraud related to Mr. Mizuhara's alleged theft of money from Mr. Otani to cover his own gambling debts. Prosecutors said Otani is considered a victim in the incident.
April 17, 2024: NBA permanently bans Jontay Porter
As a result of the investigation, the NBA said, “Porter did not disclose confidential information to sports bettors, limit his own participation in one or more games for gambling purposes, place bets on NBA games, etc. It was determined that the regulations had been violated.
