UPDATE: Major League Baseball (MLB) has just announced a significant change to betting regulations following serious allegations of player bribery. Authorized gaming operators will now impose a strict cap of $200 on individual pitch bets and prohibit these wagers from being included in parlays. This decision comes just one day after two pitchers from the Cleveland Guardians, Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, were indicted on charges of manipulating pitch outcomes at the behest of gamblers.
The league confirmed that the new limits were agreed upon by sportsbook operators representing over 98% of the U.S. betting market. MLB emphasized that pitch-level betting on outcomes such as pitch velocity and balls and strikes poses increased integrity risks as they hinge on single-player actions that could be easily influenced.
In an official statement, MLB asserted, “The risk on these pitch-level markets will be significantly mitigated by this new action targeted at the incentive to engage in misconduct.” The league’s proactive measures aim to reduce the potential for future corruption by limiting payouts and restricting the ability to bypass these new limits.
The indictment against Clase and Ortiz, filed in the U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, alleges that the players accepted bribes from sports bettors to alter the nature of specific pitches, leading to substantial winnings of at least $460,000 for two unidentified gamblers in the Dominican Republic.
Ortiz appeared in federal court on Monday, where U.S. Magistrate Judge Donald L. Cabell granted his release under strict conditions, including posting a $500,000 bond and surrendering his passport. He is also required to avoid any contact with potential victims, witnesses, or co-defendants. Ortiz’s attorney, Chris Georgalis, firmly stated that his client is innocent and has never engaged in any misconduct.
Meanwhile, Clase’s attorney, Michael J. Ferrara, expressed confidence in his client’s innocence, stating that Clase has dedicated his life to baseball and is eager to clear his name in court.
The fallout from this scandal extends beyond MLB. Last month, over 30 individuals, including prominent figures like Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier, were arrested in connection to a broader conspiracy involving insider information for gamblers. Billups’ lawyer has denied the allegations, while Rozier’s attorney insisted that he is “not a gambler” and looks forward to contesting the charges.
The U.S. Supreme Court previously paved the way for legalized sports betting in 2018 by ruling the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 unconstitutional. This shift has led to a surge in betting activity, making the integrity of sports more critical than ever.
As the investigation unfolds, MLB’s new betting regulations are a direct response to the urgent need for safeguarding the sport’s integrity. Fans and bettors alike will be closely monitoring how these changes impact the landscape of baseball betting in the coming weeks.
Stay tuned for further updates as this developing story continues to evolve.
