Latest news with #microbets
Yahoo
08-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ohio regulators drafting ban on micro-bets, including MLB first pitches, amid Guardians gambling investigation
As the gambling investigations into Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz continue, the state might be cracking down on the kind of bets that raised suspicions in the first place. Ohio regulators are drafting a rule to ban some micro-bets, including MLB first pitches, per ESPN's David Purdum. Matt Schuler, the executive director of the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC), told Purdum the organization is reviewing the types of micro-bets currently allowed in the state. If drafted, the rule would likely take a while to go through and would have to be approved by the Commission and the Ohio legislature before taking effect. Ortiz, who was placed on leave July 3, had two pitches from June flagged after a large amount was placed on micro-bets related to the first pitch of the inning. Both of the suspicious pitches took place on the initial pitch of the inning, and both pitches were significantly outside the strike zone. The review is being done at the request of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who sent out a a news release July 31 that called on the OCCC to remove certain types of bets. DeWine's primary issue was with micro prop bets, which he called "highly specific events within games that are completely controlled by one player." "The harm to athletes and the integrity of the game is clear, and the benefits are not worth the harm. The prop betting experiment in this country has failed badly," DeWine said in the release. For the investigation into Ortiz, there were two specific pitches flagged, with one on June 15 and another on June 27. In both incidents, an unusual amount of money was placed on Ortiz either throwing a ball or hitting a batter on the first pitch of the inning, with both pitches hitting the dirt well outside the zone. Per Purdum, MLB has had ongoing conversations about how to approach micro-bets. During the MLB All-Star break, league commissioner Rob Manfred told reporters he considers some bets "unnecessary and particularly vulnerable." Clase was placed on leave July 28 in connection with a sports betting investigation, though the exact nature of that connection is still unknown. Ortiz was originally set to return from leave July 17, before his leave was extended to Aug. 31, the same as Clase. Both players have had their lockers cleared by the team in the meantime.
Yahoo
08-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ohio regulators drafting ban on micro-bets, including MLB first pitches, amid Guardians gambling investigation
As the gambling investigations into Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz continue, the state might be cracking down on the kind of bets that raised suspicions in the first place. Ohio regulators are drafting a rule to ban some micro-bets, including MLB first pitches, per ESPN's David Purdum. Matt Schuler, the executive director of the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC), told Purdum that the organization is reviewing the types of micro-bets currently allowed in the state. If drafted, the rule would likely take a while to go through, and would have to be approved by the Commission and the Ohio legislature before taking effect. Ortiz, who was placed on leave on July 3, had two pitches from June flagged after a large amount was placed on micro-bets related to the first pitch of the inning. Both of the suspicious pitches took place on the initial pitch of the inning, and both pitches were significantly outside the strike zone. The review is being done at the request of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, who sent out a a news release on July 31 that called on the OCCC to remove certain types of bets. DeWine's primary issue was with micro prop bets, which he called "highly specific events within games that are completely controlled by one player." "The harm to athletes and the integrity of the game is clear, and the benefits are not worth the harm. The prop betting experiment in this country has failed badly," DeWine said in the release. For the investigation into Ortiz, there were two specific pitches flagged, with one on June 15 and another on June 27. In both incidents, an unusual amount of money was placed on Ortiz either throwing a ball or hitting a batter on the first pitch of the inning, with both pitches hitting the dirt well outside the zone. Per Purdum, MLB has had ongoing conversations about how to approach micro-bets. During the MLB All-Star break, league commissioner Rob Manfred told reporters that he considers some bets "unnecessary and particularly vulnerable." Clase was placed on leave on July 28 in connection with a sports betting investigation, though the exact nature of that connection is still unknown. Ortiz was originally set to return from leave on July 17, before his leave was extended to Aug. 31, the same as Clase. Both players have had their lockers cleared by the team in the meantime.
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
New Jersey bill seeks to ban micro betting in sports gambling
TRENTON, N.J. (PIX11) — Sports betting could look a little different in the Garden State under a new bill just introduced in the State House. If passed into law, 'micro-bets' in sports games would be banned. 'People are constantly making bets, play after play after play, and there's no let-up,' said Assemblyman Dan Hutchison (D-NJ 4th District), the author of bill A5971. More Local News Also known as in-game live betting, micro bets involve betting on the next immediate action in a game. It could be a bet on whether or not the next play will involve a score, or if the next pitch in a baseball game is a ball or strike. When not serving in the Assembly, Hutchison works as a bankruptcy attorney. 'I will help people who have problems with their debts, and a lot of times people are choosing to place bets over making their mortgage payments,' said Hutchison. He says micro-betting can accelerate the path to problem gambling. 'This is a different type of gambling,' said Hutchison. The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, which helps operate the 800-GAMBLER helpline, says this kind of betting can alter brain chemistry, producing dopamine hits in rapid-fire fashion. 'The Council has seen a nearly 300 percent increase in calls to our helpline since sports betting was legalized in 2018,' said Daniel Meara, Communications Specialist for the Council. '[Micro betting] is one of the most troubling manifestations of the new gambling environment.' Some sports bettors in New Jersey, who did not wish to speak on camera, told us they don't often place micro-bets, and instead place bets more on the long-term outcome of a game. If passed into law, the bill would seek to establish penalties for sports wagering licensees who offer micro-bets. No word yet, though, on what those penalties could look like. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
