LAS VEGAS – Just a day after two Cleveland Guardians pitchers were indicted by federal authorities for wire fraud and several counts of conspiracy to influence sporting events with professional gamblers, Major League Baseball announced Monday that it has reached an agreement with prominent U.S. sportsbooks to place a limit on baseball wagering centered on prop bets.
The betting limit will now be limited to $200 on wagers focused on individual pitches and exclude them from parlays in hopes of decreasing the incentives of MLB players to be involved in illegal gambling.
Guardians All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase and starter Luis Ortiz have been under investigation since July for their alleged gambling activities in games, agreeing to throw specific pitches in games, and face a potential 65 years in federal prison. Ortiz was arrested Sunday in Boston, and Clase has not yet been placed in U.S. custody.
“MLB contacted federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and has fully cooperated throughout the process,” a league spokesperson said in a statement.
If found guilty, Clase and Ortiz will also receive lifetime suspensions from baseball.
‘I commend the industry for working with us to take action on a national solution to address the risks posed by these pitch-level markets, which are particularly vulnerable to integrity concerns,’ Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement.
Manfred said he received guidance on prop betting from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who called for a ban on micro-proposition bets after MLB launched its investigation in July on Clase and Ortiz.
“By limiting the ability to place large wagers on micro-prop bets, Major League Baseball is taking affirmative steps to protect the integrity of the game and reduce the incentives to participate in improper betting schemes,’ DeWine said in a statement. “I urge other sports leagues to follow Major League Baseball’s example with similar action.’
DraftKings and FanDuel, the two largest sportsbook operators that have sponsorships with MLB, agreed to alter their baseball betting menus after talks with MLB.
“Since the Supreme Court decision opened the door to legalized sports betting, Major League Baseball has continuously worked with industry and regulatory stakeholders across the country to uphold our most important priority,’’ Manfred said, “protecting the integrity of our games for the fans. … We look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders, including licensed sports betting operators, elected officials and regulators, to ensure we are always protecting the integrity of our game.”
Said Christian Genetski, president of FanDuel: “The legalized sports betting industry is built on a foundation of dialogue and collaboration with our league partners and the states in which we operate. This initiative illustrates our unwavering commitment to building a legal and regulated market that roots out abuses by those who seek to undermine fair competition and damage the integrity of the games we love.”
Major League Baseball, which is having its annual GM meetings in Las Vegas this week, is also scheduled to have its first MLB team, the Athletics, playing on the Las Vegas strip in 2028.
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