On Tuesday, Major organization Baseball declared that it had concluded its inquiry into the biggest baseball gambling scandal in recent memory. In addition, the organization permanently suspended a player for making 231 bets on MLB games via an authorized bookmaker.
Former interpreter for Shohei Ohtani, Ippei Mizuhara, entered a guilty plea to one count of bank fraud, which carries a maximum punishment of thirty years in federal prison, and one count of filing a false tax return, which carries a two-year maximum term. His sentence is scheduled for October 25.
Infielder Tucupita Marcano of the San Diego Padres was permanently barred by MLB for his hundreds of baseball bets, which included bets on the Pittsburgh Pirates during his team’s previous season. For breaking MLB’s betting regulations, four other players were also given one-year suspensions: minor league pitcher Andrew Saalfrank of the Arizona Diamondbacks, minor league pitcher Jay Groome of the Padres, minor league infielder José Rodriguez of the Philadelphia Phillies, and pitcher Michael Kelly of the Oakland Athletics.
Leagues have previously experienced difficulties as a result of illegal sports betting, and scandals have implicated individuals close to some of the biggest celebrities in the world. It was revealed to the public last year that LeBron James’ business partner had bet on NBA games and was a client of a bookmaker who was the subject of a federal investigation.
However, that did not trap James the way this episode has, with Ohtani taking a financial stake. This has raised concerns about MLB’s gambling policies and where it draws the line for players and staff members. Even while this new scenario presents other questions, the collective bargaining agreement for the sport lays out some of those answers.
Can MLB players bet?
Both yes and no. Baseball is not open to wagering. As if this were not previously obvious, the CBA is clear-cut on this one. The CBA’s Attachment 60 outlines MLB’s sports betting rules, with “No Betting on Baseball” being the first activity that is forbidden.
MLB games are not open to wagering. Games in the lesser leagues are not open to betting. They are unable to wager on sports played by minors, teenagers, adults, colleges, or foreign teams. They are unable to wager on events like home run derbies or skill challenges. They are not permitted to wager on the results of at-bats, specific pitches, or innings during games. They will not wager on anything involving baseball, no matter what. Additionally, players are not permitted to “help” with wagers made by others or place wagers on baseball on their behalf.
They are unable to participate in fantasy baseball or daily fantasy baseball games if there is monetary prizes or chances to win “of value.” They are unable to assist those “who participate in such activities” or set up a player’s representative to play on their behalf.
A player mentioned that he had been informed that betting on softball was prohibited because it is too similar to baseball and it is better to be safe than sorry. The real rules do not state that. However, due to the overlap between the sports, it is brought up verbally in the annual spring training camp meetings regarding the gambling regulations. At that point, representatives from MLB visit clubhouses to clarify what activities are allowed and what are not.
”The league was here early (in spring) and they talked about rules,” Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Thursday. “And we know them.”
Can MLB players bet on a March Madness pool, or participate in a fantasy football league?
Yes, they are allowed to place the wager as long as it is lawful and unrelated to baseball. The first round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament appeared on clubhouse televisions at spring training when March Madness got began, and players discussing their brackets in public was very acceptable. As long as it is permitted by the applicable state legislation, players may wager on Quidditch, the NBA, or the English Premier League. And it does not matter how much they wager—even if it is in the millions. The CBA states as follows:
If a major league player is eligible to bet under the terms of the current law, they may lawfully wager on sports other than baseball games and baseball tournaments in jurisdictions where such wagers are permitted. Major League Players can also legally play fantasy sports other than baseball in exchange for cash or other valuables.
Players may wager on other sports, though. so long as it is an authorized wager.
“We all understand the rules,” Cincinnati Reds pitcher Brent Suter said. “They do a good job of explaining it and keeping us informed.”
Can MLB players bet with bookies?
No. Which sport matters is irrelevant. Gamers are unable to“illegal bets on any sport or event, including bets placed with illegal bookmakers or illegal off-shore sports betting websites or applications.” Therefore, they are unable to wager in states like California where it is still prohibited.
Can MLB team employees bet?
They can not bet on baseball, that much is certain. Rule 21(d)(1) states that anyone who works for a league or team and makes a wager on a baseball game in which they are not playing—or, to put it more formally, one in which “the bettor has an obligation to perform”—will be ineligible for league membership for a year. Rule 21(d)(2) states that officials or employees who bet on a baseball game in which they are involved will be permanently banned from the game. As a result, they seem to have space to bet on sports other than baseball. If nothing else, it is unclear from the rule that league and team employees are limited to betting on baseball.
Unless they are placed in violation of the law. In this case, Rule 21(d)(3) is explicit. It states: “Any player, umpire, or Club or League official or employee who places bets with illegal book makers, or agents for illegal book makers, shall be subject to such penalty as the Commissioner deems appropriate.” Being involved in the bookmaking industry or working for one entails a minimum one-year suspension.
MLB posts this rule in every clubhouse across the nation, just in case anyone attempts to claim ignorance or creates misunderstanding.
How would MLB even know if someone was making a bet?
Excellent query. Naturally, it would be challenging to determine whether a bet is being placed with an unauthorized bookmaker. However, some sports have systems set up to alert them in the event that players, league employees, or staff place a wager at a licensed bookmaker. Calvin Ridley was suspended by the NFL when it discovered that he was betting on football after one of its betting partners reported his bets. If a player or official places a wager, the NBA is notified via authorized gaming operator partners and Sportradar, its global data distributor. According to an MLB representative, the league uses a comparable system. The league’s approved gaming providers must notify MLB if they learn that a baseball player or
Is there any wiggle room?
If there is, Major League Baseball attempts to hide it in Rule 21’s latter sections. Section F attempts to address any other potential misbehavior by including this comprehensive clause:
Nothing in this article should be interpreted as specifically defining or restricting any acts, transactions, practices, or conduct that is not in baseball’s best interests. All other acts, transactions, practices, or conduct that is not in baseball’s best interests are forbidden and may be punished with fines or permanent disqualification, depending on the circumstances of each individual case.
That is a wide provision that would prohibit a lot of things, even if they are not specifically included in the CBA or the regulations of Major League Baseball. Even though a player may not have placed a bet, it would rule out any illicit connections to betting and expose them to punishment from the commissioner.
Have there been any other betting incidents in baseball recently?
According to ESPN, MLB is looking into whether David Fletcher, who was Ohtani’s teammate and close friend when they were with the Los Angeles Angels from 2018 to 2023, placed sports bets with the same bookmaker who accepted bets from Mizuhara. The report claims that Mizuhara also bet through Mathew Bowyer, an unlicensed bookmaker, who Fletcher and close friend Colby Schultz, who played two seasons in the Kansas City Royals development system, used to wager on games.
Baseball games were not included in Fletcher’s bets, but games that Fletcher participated in with the Angels were included in Schultz’s wagers, according to ESPN.
Nine years ago, Jarred Cosart was penalized for using an unauthorized bookmaker to place bets—though not on baseball. That was caused by leaked direct messages between Cosart—who was a Miami Marlins pitcher at the time—and a sports analyst on Twitter. MLB announced after its inquiry that Cosart was not a baseball bettor.
Pitcher Peter Bayer was suspended in 2021 for his involvement in baseball wagering. According to a league inquiry, Bayer wagered more than 100 times on baseball, including at least 12 of those bets on his team, the Oakland A’s, that season. According to Bayer, he placed his wagers via an authorized sportsbook. As of the 2023 season, Bayer was still on suspension.
Are there any other gambling-related activities that could get a player in trouble with the Commissioner’s Office?
A handful exist. When it comes to its sport, MLB does not even want the impression of impropriety, particularly the kind that could result from being close to the gambling industry. It goes without saying that players are not permitted to fix baseball games, but they also break the law against game fixing if they fail to disclose that they have been asked to fix a game right away.
Additionally, players are not allowed to reveal what the CBA considers “confidential information” to anyone who the players know will “use such confidential information in connection with the betting markets.” That kind of information includes “player health, rosters, lineups, transactions, discipline or umpires.”
— The Athletic‘s C. Trent Rosecrans and Chad Jennings contributed to this report.
(Top photo of Ohtani and Mizuhara: Meg Oliphant/ / Getty Images)
