Betting is a major topic of conversation in sports, especially within the last few years. It has revolutionized the way people watch sports through the rise of legalized, regulated sports gambling. However, it has also been at the center of several big controversies. From scandals with baseball to crackdowns on current betting within professional leagues, sports betting has had a lasting effect both on and off the field in the world of sports.

The Growth of Sports Betting

Traditionally, sports gambling was an underground activity with bets being placed through illicit bookies or in states where such activity wasn’t legalized. However, all that changed in 2018 when the United States Supreme Court struck down a federal ban on state-sponsored sports betting called the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, paving the way for states to allow for the activity. Since then, sports gambling has grown in incredible ways, with many states passing laws for casinos, online, and even mobile apps. In 2023, more than 30 states offered legal sports betting, with billions of dollars wagered each year.

“Today, 22% of adults say they’ve personally bet money on sports in the past year,” according to the Pew Research Center. “That’s a slight uptick from 19% three years ago.”

This figure includes betting online with a betting app, sportsbook, or casino or in person at a casino or racetrack along with betting with friends or family in a private betting pool or fantasy league.

According to the American Gaming Association, Americans bet over $60 billion on sports in 2022 alone. The boom in sports gambling has made a huge impact on the sports industry, increasing viewership and fan engagement, while betting odds and lines have become a regular part of broadcasts, news coverage, and even social media discussions.

According to the Pew Research Center, “Today, 43% of U.S. adults say the fact that sports betting is now legal in much of the country is a bad thing for society. That’s up from 34% in 2022.”

Recent Sports Betting Scandals

Yet, even with the legalization of sports wagering, recent crackdowns have resulted in scandals related to athletes and coaches placing wagers. Among the more notable scandals in recent times was that involving several pitchers from the Cleveland Guardians, Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz who were brought up on charges in November for money laundering and betting after allegedly taking bribes for throwing pitches in MLB games starting in 2023. A suspension from the Guardians was imposed in July due to the ongoing investigation. This has set off alarm bells regarding the integrity of the sport, due to fears that eventually such circumstances will lead to more cheating or match-fixing.

In basketball, a very well-publicized case involved former NBA coach Rick Pitino. In 2015, Pitino was implicated in a major college basketball recruiting scandal, but was also connected in the past to a major gambling scandal that shook the sports world. Pro leagues have made their position on gambling crystal clear: No athlete, coach, or referee is allowed to make bets on the game, due to the potential for conflict of interest, and the undermining of competition integrity.

Looking Back: Historic Betting Scandals

The issue of sports betting is not new. One of the most famous scandals involving betting took place in 1989 when Pete Rose, the all-time MLB hits leader, was banned from baseball after allegations arose that he bet on several baseball games, including those in which his team, the Cincinnati Reds, participated. Despite his achievements on the field, Rose was banned for life from baseball, and he was never allowed to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. In 2022, nearly 30 years after his ban, baseball’s Hall of Fame finally allowed a vote on his inclusion, but to many, Rose’s actions cast a dark shadow over the sport. This case shows how seriously sports leagues take the issue of gambling, since even one of the greatest players in baseball history was kept out of the Hall of Fame for betting on the game.

Another infamous scandal from the past is the 1919 Black Sox Scandal, an event in which eight members of the Chicago White Sox were accused of accepting money from gamblers in return for losing the World Series. The players were banned for life by Kenesaw Mountain Landis, Major League Baseball’s first commissioner.

The Future of Sports Betting

Even with all the controversies that sports betting has brought about, it will not taper off anytime soon. Legalized gambling is still on course and may continue to see more states jump on the bandwagon to legalize bets taken on sports. As the sports world moves along with this new reality, leagues will most likely keep stringent rules in place to ensure fairness is upheld and corruption does not occur. As sports betting becomes a part of the mainstream, fans will have to be more thoughtful and informed of the risks involved. While betting on sports can add a new level of excitement to your favorite teams, it also brings along new consequences concerning the athletes who participate and a potential threat to sports integrity. The more significant the growth of sports betting, the more critical it is for fans and players alike to understand the thin line between enjoying the thrill of the bet and ensuring fairness in sports.