In a recent wave of scandal, lifetime bans were handed to San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano and Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter for their involvement in sports gambling. Marcano placed over $150,000 in baseball bets in 2022 and 2023, becoming the first active MLB player in a century to receive a lifetime ban for gambling. This ban follows the suspension of Oakland Athletics pitcher Michael Kelly and three minor leaguers for betting on baseball games.
The history of gambling scandals in sports dates back to the infamous 1919 Black Sox Scandal, where eight members of the Chicago White Sox were accused of fixing the World Series. Bans have been issued in various sports, including hockey, basketball, and soccer, with notable cases involving Pete Rose in baseball and Tim Donaghy in the NBA.
Recent incidents include England’s Kieran Trippier being banned for insider information and Brazil opening a probe into soccer match-fixing. In golf, Phil Mickelson faced allegations of excessive gambling, while NHL player Shane Pinto received a 41-game suspension for sports gambling.
The Los Angeles Dodgers also made headlines after firing their interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, for illegal gambling ties. Mizuhara pled guilty to bank and tax fraud for stealing money from player Shohei Ohtani’s account to cover gambling debts.
As sports leagues continue to crack down on gambling violations, the issue remains prevalent across various sports, serving as a reminder of the consequences and risks associated with betting in professional athletics.
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