College GameDay host Rece Davis recently called sports betting a “risk-free investment.” John West/Getty Images
Sports betting is now legal in 38 states (plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico), and sports giant ESPN is turning to gambling to boost revenue as cable TV viewership declines. Last year, the company signed a 10-year deal with Penn Entertainment to create a licensed online sportsbook called ESPN Bet ahead of the release of its flagship streaming service in 2025. But over the weekend, ESPN's segment offering betting advice to fans ended. It attracted critics.
on ESPN's March Madness show. college game day This weekend, Erin Dolan shares some of her top betting ideas for sports fans, including picking No. 9 Northwestern to score under 60.5 points in the game against No. 1 U.S. I explained it in detail. The show's host, Rece Davis, responded with her usual enthusiasm. “You know? Some people call this gambling, gambling. The way you sold this, I think it's a risk-free investment,” he said.
Dolan also seemed surprised and replied, “Okay!” It's a positive way. Many viewers were shocked and took to social media shortly after the segment aired to criticize Davis' “risk-free investment” comment.
Jared Smith, Fox Sports Radio Betting Analyst claimed“This is far more damaging to the sports betting industry than what's going on with Shohei Ohtani,” he said of allegations that he covered the Dodgers pitcher and former interpreter's multimillion-dollar gambling debts. Mentioned.
“I know the lawyers at ESPN are losing their minds after hearing Rece Davis call the University of Northwestern under a 'risk-free investment.'” I have written John Nucci is an attorney with Woods Oviatt Gilman specializing in sports.
Davis responded to the criticism on Twitter, insisting his comments were just a joke, but pointing out that the bet he was referring to ended up winning. “On this morning's segment of @CollegeGameDay, I joked that the advice was like a 'risk-free investment' because the @ESPNBet picks hit yesterday. As we all know , no such thing exists. There is clearly a risk,” he wrote.
“While I am not a gambler, I strongly urge anyone who engages in gambling to do so with caution, caution, prudence, financial and personal responsibility, and to never go overboard. It's not possible. Gambling is difficult. So let's agree to manage our financial risks properly. I think everyone realizes that my comment was a joke. Just to be clear.” he added.
Despite Davis' reaction, critics seem unimpressed. “It may sound old-fashioned, but I liked it better when the world's largest sports media company didn't call sports gambling a 'risk-free investment,'” said host Joe Pompliano. To tell. joe pump show We are also the provider of a widely read sports newsletter. I have written.
ESPN did not immediately respond. luckRequest for comment on Davis' statement.
