Commissioner Manfred Defends MLB’s Partnerships with Gambling Companies

Like other major sports leagues, MLB has both benefited from and contributed to the rise of sports betting. Accordingly, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred justified the league’s partnerships with gambling companies, describing them as an essential means of identifying and preventing misconduct.

MLB Commissioner Defends the League’s Relationship With Betting Companies

Manfred has explained that, once sports betting is introduced, the key issue becomes access to data, which requires building relationships with sportsbooks. He pointed out that, as with most partnerships, if the league wants something from these companies, it must offer something in return. This, he stated, is how such relationships come about.

He also emphasized that MLB did not push for legalized sports betting, but rather found itself in an environment where it is now a reality. Manfred acknowledged that the league has little control over this shift. If any significant change were to occur, he suggested, it would likely come through federal legislation.

Manfred stated that the league has been highly vigilant regarding issues related to legalized sports betting. He emphasized that MLB’s top priority is protecting the integrity of the game and asserted that the league has strong systems in place to achieve that goal. He added that the league has also made significant efforts to provide players with resources, ensuring they have support and an outlet if they encounter problems related to sports betting.

Manfred’s Words Come Against the Background of Several Sports League Betting Scandals

Manfred stated on Saturday that he had no specific timeline for when MLB’s ongoing gambling investigation, currently focused on Clase and Ortiz, which has now entered its fourth month, would conclude. An Ohio sportsbook had flagged what the Ohio Gaming Commission described as “suspicious wagering activity on Cleveland Guardians events.”

Meanwhile, Clase, a standout reliever, is facing difficulty securing a place to pitch this winter as the investigation continues. The Dominican Winter League has opted not to allow him to play this year, and the Guardians have refused to permit him to join a team in Venezuela, where he had been exploring another opportunity.

But the MLB isn’t the only sports league that is currently embroiled in a betting-related scandal. Last week, Congress sent a letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silverrequesting a briefing on the league’s ongoing scandal, which involves two separate investigations. The controversy has already led to the arrests of Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former NBA player Damon Jones.