NBA, MLB Players Face Betting Scandalโ Fallout, โSparking โฃCongressional Concern
WASHINGTON – Professional sports leagues are reeling from a series of betting scandals involving NBA and MLB โคplayers, prompting โa congressional investigation and raising concernsโข about the integrity of โฃthe gamesโ and the rise of sports gambling.
Recent investigations revealed allegations of illegal sports wagering byโค several athletes. The NBA is investigating Toronto Raptors forward Jontay porterโข after allegations surfaced that he disclosed confidentialโ medical information and compromised games due to bets he knew about.MLB is investigating Shohei OhtaniS interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, accused of stealing millions to cover gambling debts. Ohtani has denied knowledge of Mizuhara’s alleged betting activity.
“All these scandals,” said Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C.”People are goingโฃ to get tired โof it and move on. I โคmean, my God, football, basketball, baseball shoudl all be worried now that watching people play video gamesโค is a spectator sport.”
The scandals come as sportsโข betting has rapidly expanded across โthe United โStates following the Supreme Court’s 2018 decision overturning โคa federal ban on โคsports โคwagering.โฃ Accordingโฃ to โRep. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., one in five Americans bet on sports at least once a month, and 7 million people have a gambling problem, with one in โฃfive of those addicted to gambling attempting suicide.
“It’s impossible to ignore the similarities between sportsbooks today and the big tobacco efforts of decades earlier,” โTonko โsaid. “rather of ads with doctors recommending cigarettes, it’s celebrities teaching viewers how to bet.”
Concerns โคalso center on the design of gaming apps and their potential โฃto foster addiction, notably โฃamong younger audiences. Ben Affleck noted, “That’s what theโข leagues have to be โworried about – aโข sense that everybody’s on the take.”
congress isโค currently investigating the scandals, but the outcome remains uncertain. Eric Schmitt argued against federalโฃ overreach, suggesting regulation should remain at the state level.
Given the currentโ political climate, โanalysts suggest โคnotable legislative actionโ is unlikely.
