Dominican Gambling Under Fire After Charges Against Two MLB Pitchers

A wave of worry is spreading across the Dominican Republic as the country faces up to how big its hidden gambling networks are. This issue came to light after two Major League Baseball (MLB) pitchers were charged in the United States. 

Charges Against Clase and Ortiz Reignite Debate on the Reach of Underground Gambling in the Dominican Republic

The recent charges against Cleveland Guardians players Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz have brought back old questions about how far illegal betting goes and how much it affects a country like the Dominican Republic, where love for sports betting is a part of daily life.

Prosecutors in New York claim two pitchers took money from gamblers in the Dominican Republic to change certain pitches. They think this allowed those bettors to win almost $500,000. Both players say they did not do it, but this story has made many Dominicans uneasy. Baseball means a lot to people there. Fans in the Dominican Republic worry that problems like this could hurt how people see their athletes in other countries, reported the Associated Press.

You can spot betting shops in almost every neighborhood across the nation, with official records showing about 3,500 licensed locations. People in the industry admit this is just part of the story, as a large network of unregulated operations exists on the same streets. The government has talked about changes for years, but real progress has been slow. The head of the national lottery stated that attempts to bring order have hit roadblocks due to reasons beyond the agency’s control, though he did not give any more details.

Illegal Wagers Surge While Dominican Government Moves to Rein in a Chaotic Betting Market

Regular bettors do not care much about the difference between legal and illegal betting spots. Some say they just like places that take bigger bets and are easy to get to. Gamblers who have been at it for a while talk about a scene where bets on MLB, NBA, and NFL games are the main thing. They also swap stories about athletes doing shady stuff. These tales, whether they are true or blown out of proportion, fuel people’s guesses whenever questions about honesty come up.

Dominican Republic politicians are now taking the issue more seriously. Lawmakers are looking at a plan to set up an independent body. This body would have the power to license, watch over, and enforce rules in the gambling industry. They are talking about this while the country is still dealing with another scandal. The ex-national head of casinos and gambling told a court he let illegal betting shops run in return for monthly cash. He said to the judge that there were so many shops involved, he could not remember how much money he got.

As the Dominican winter baseball season nears its end, betting experts predict a rise in legal and illegal gambling. Earlier this year, former star hitter David Ortiz showed how much fans love to bet when he dared them to make a million-peso wager on who would win the National League title. This event highlighted the strong link between gambling and sports in a country now dealing with the effects of this relationship.