The influence of online gambling on professional sports continues to grow

The legalization of online sports betting in many U.S. states has led to a surge in gambling activity, resulting in billions in local tax revenue. However, this growth has also brought about a concerning trend of players breaking league rules and placing bets, including on their own teams and personal performance.

The most recent incident involved former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter, who was permanently banned by the NBA after an investigation revealed that he shared information about his health status with bettors and had bet $54,000 on basketball games. This is just one of many cases that have emerged since the Supreme Court cleared the way for states to legalize online sports betting in 2018.

In another instance, Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani was at the center of an MLB gambling probe, and NHL player Shane Pinto was suspended for 41 games for violating the league’s gambling rules. The Athletic reported that in 2023, 11 pro athletes were caught engaging in sports gambling, including NFL players from the Detroit Lions who were suspended for a season.

Experts have raised concerns about the integrity of professional sports and the susceptibility of player proposition bets to manipulation. While leagues have restrictions on athletes placing bets, they also have lucrative partnerships with betting platforms, creating a mixed message for players.

Although gambling incidents involving athletes are relatively rare, experts predict more controversies as additional states legalize sports betting. The NBA’s swift action in banning Porter may have preserved the league’s integrity, but the issue of sports gambling and player misconduct remains a complex challenge for professional sports organizations.