NBA Betting Indictments Raise MLB Integrity Concerns

Federal indictments in a wide-ranging sports-betting probe have led to arrests of NBA figures including Terry Rozier, Chauncey Billups and Damon Jones, undermining public trust in sports’ integrity. Critics say leagues overestimated their ability to self-police after embracing legalized wagering and that injury-report leaks plus the growth of prop and microbets create new vulnerabilities. Industry integrity monitors depend on data from regulated sportsbooks and thus miss billions wagered offshore, intensifying calls from Ohio officials (including Gov. Mike DeWine) and others to ban or limit certain prop and microbets while sportsbooks resist curbs. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred defended partnerships with gambling companies as necessary to access data and detect aberrant wagering and said MLB is being vigilant as it investigates suspicious bets tied to Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, who have been suspended indefinitely. The league said it will continue thorough investigations, discipline when warranted, and provide players resources to protect competitive integrity amid the expanding legalized betting environment.