With the recent gambling investigations of two Cleveland Guardians players, the Buckeye State could be taking matters into its own hands.
Ohio lawmakers are looking to ban certain microbets within games, according to ESPN sports betting reporter David Purdum.
Key Takeaways
- Ohio lawmakers looking into microbetting issue for all sports, according to ESPN report on Friday.
- Microbetting is a type of sports wagering that involves placing bets on specific events or outcomes within a sporting event.
- Comes on heels of two Cleveland Guardians pitchers suspensions.
Microbetting is a type of sports wagering that involves placing bets on specific events or outcomes within a sporting event such as the first pitch of the game or what a particular batter does in the next at-bat. In other words, short-term, in-game prop betting.
At the request of Gov. Mike DeWine (R), the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC), is currently reviewing the types of microbets offered by the state's sportsbooks, not just on baseball, but for all sports. A rule would then be drafted to remove some specific player prop microbets from the list of the state's approved wagers, executive director Matt Schuler told ESPN on Friday.
Ohio sports betting currently has 15 legal online sportsbooks, highlighted by bet365, BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, ESPN BET, and FanDuel to name a few.
Just nine days ago, DeWine referenced MLB's "sports betting investigation" into Guardians pitchers Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase in a news release and asked the OCCC to remove prop bets on "highly specific events within games that are completely controlled by one player."
DeWine added that he would be asking the commissioners and players unions from six major professional sports leagues (MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL, NHL and WNBA) to support such efforts to "ban prop betting to ensure the integrity of their leagues."
MLB is having ongoing conversations regarding how to address microbets, according to the ESPN report. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred told reporters during the last month's All-Star break in Atlanta that he believes certain types of microbets, such as ones on individual pitches, are "unnecessary and particularly vulnerable."
The OCCC, along with MLB and independently, has been investigating the unusual betting interest on first pitches by Ortiz in select innings of two games played in June. Ortiz was put on non-disciplinary paid leave on July 3. Clase was put on non-disciplinary paid leave on July 28, as part of MLB's sports betting investigation. The Guardians said in a statement last week that "no additional players or club personnel are expected to be impacted."
