Major League Baseball has announced a partnership agreement with MGM Resorts International. Among other things, the agreement makes MGM the “Official Gaming Partner of MLB.”
It’s unsurprising, but still quite notable, that the league appears to be embracing fully the onset of widespread legal gambling. There’s an immense amount of money to be made, after all, and MLB is sure to make more of it by participating without reservation. Daily fantasy sports may well prove only to have been a starter dish.
Some kind of engagement was inevitable when the Supreme Court opened the door to states to legalize gambling back in May. At the time, the league said its “most important priority is protecting the integrity of our games.” That topic is mentioned again in the MLB-MGM press release, though specifics remain unknown.
What is clear now is that MLB will jump into the exploding gambling market with both feet. MGM is set to “domestically promote its brand and gaming options across MLB’s digital and broadcast platforms,” with the sides also expressing an intention to seek “additional fan engagement offerings to be jointly developed.” It seems we can safely anticipate a high-visibility marketing campaign in the coming season.
Beyond that, MLB will allow MGM non-exclusive access to its statistics feed as well as an exclusive right to plug into “enhanced statistics.” Just what that means is anyone’s guess, but we probably oughtn’t be surprised to see prop bets on Statcast feats.
If you think that sort of thing sounds wild, gird yourself. Commissioner Rob Manfred emphasized today that the pacing of a baseball game allows for “an opportunity to be creative with respect to the types of wagers” that can be facilitated in the midst of a game, as ESPN.com’s Darren Rovell tweets.
Full details obviously remain unknown, and the league is sure to remain mindful of some potential pitfalls (especially given the game’s history with gambling). In the aggregate, though, it seems the initial approach is one of expansive engagement, not of wary first steps. Needless to say, it’s a brave new world for baseball.
MGM just announced a deal with the NY Jets, first deal of its kind w/ NFL team, less than month ago. MGM making moves in the sports world.
You should try having some other aspects to your life besides being on MLBTR 24/7 and being the first comment 75% of the time. The sad thing is about 1/4 of your posts are really good. Maybe just don’t write the other 3/4 of them… geez.
He’s passionate about everything baseball. I respect that Xabial. Really do.
you just admitted being on here 24/7 by doing the math out on his post…
think about it next time before you call someone out.
I enjoy x we need more of him amd less of you so the forum is fun again.
Please don’t call him a douchepuppy
youtu.be/-D50bjRjwHc
Doyer fan trying to hard to troll.
Maybe you should try to let people live their lives
To bad the knowledge isn’t as strong as the passion
Are you upset because you want to be the first commenter on a post?
This is why I don’t comment much on here. Some folks are just so negative and quick to bash others with opposing opinions rather than respectfully disagreeing.
People want to discuss baseball and related topics without being hassled by arrogant condescending jerk offs. Sadly, that’s becoming more common place today.
We all come here because we enjoy baseball. Is it really that difficult to not be so rude and trying to make others feel stupid?
And, yeah. My words may seem contradicting but I felt they were necessary in this instance to make my point clear.
/rant.
Thank you IBM.
My concern with this topic is while fantasy and gambling is fun to some, it’s addictive to many. Some including myself might even be considered addicted to this site. To be able to gamble through your phone on who get’s the next HR or whatever unique bet they will create is mindboggling dangerous. Heard on the radio how fun it would be to bet on the next hockey faceoff. Are you kidding me? I’m not trying to preach the outlawing of gambling, only have it limited and controlled. States though are looking at gambling as the solution to how to finance government without raising taxes. Just remember outside of a few new jobs and initial cost investment, gambling mainly redistributes current wealth, it doesn’t add anything. For every winner, there has to be more in losers. Gamble for entertainment but like other vices, it will be done to attract the excess despite disclaimers suggesting otherwise.
Meh. People are responsible for themselves. If you can’t handle responsible gambling, abstain. If you have zero self control, it’s called natural selection.
That’s a narrow minded viewpoint when you consider society as a whole. No one likes government controls but there is a purpose. Families get ruined by all forms of addiction. Dodgethis, you don’t know anyone affected by alcohol, drugs, gambling or other compulsions? They bring down not just the person involved but families can get destroyed. Again, not trying to preach against all forms of gambling, just mainly the instant access if nothing else. To bet on who wins a faceoff? Very dangerous.
Have other aspects of your life, says the guy who complains about the timing of when someone else posts
Xabial isn’t old enough to legally gamble, yet here he is first on another mlbtr post. Kid has nothing else to do with his life. Quite depressing
The quite depressing thing is You don’t know anything about me, but try give off that u do.
Your analysis couldn’t be more wrong, and your troll game is getting creepy.
You report comments you feel offend you. Go outside and make friends
He reports posts that offend his delicate sensibilities, and since he sucks up to the writers they remove them to appease him.
The writers don’t do anything to appease anyone. We just try to enforce the site’s policies. I removed one comment from this thread because it linked to a tweet that doesn’t mesh with our commenting policy (hilarious though it was).
Less than 5 minutes after the article is posted, xabial comments. How could you find the article, read it, formed a thorough thought and opinion, and wrote out your comment, all within 5 minutes?
Had something to do with MGM. Gambling. The Supreme Court’s Gambling verdict ripple effect.
The mind is like a parachute. Expand it. (Instead of hating on me 24/7 — you are more off-topic than anything I posted here
How slow does this guy read, think, and type…
Hooked on phonics
Not that hard, I’m drunk and I read it in less than two minutes.
Look into the Jets MGM deal, Jeff. Relevant and worth it. Get the sense, MGM being disruptor in the field, in the same sense as fanduel and draftkings were / are. MGM-Jets deal is just as, if not more controversial, which is why fascinates me, MGM’s making these moves
MGM-Jets deal was done without the NFL consent. Gambling is controversial, but MGM is not afraid. Love your work, My favorite author. Sorry sullied comment section of yet another solid article.
Don’t worry about the bullies.. just remove my post… replies goes away. Want to show you Bully culture, when u don’t remove harass posts or speak up. Out of control
Wahhh
I got your back X. I always read your post and sometimes they are not bad . 🙂
The dumbest possible thing.
I, for one, am excited for Pete Rose’s HOF induction.
Exactly what I was thinking. The all time hit leader, Pete Rose should be in Hall of Fame.
Pffft. HOF. Pete has a much more important gig coming. He will soon be the official spokesperson and the marketing face of MLB’s gambling juggernaut. Expect to see his smirking likeness on billboards in this capacity soon.
Haha he would be the worst choice on Earth
But it sure would be funny!!!
Rose’s place in Vegas is at an MGM owned casino.
Donovan, only if his payday can be assigned over to his present bookmaker…
Can’t wait to go to Cooperstown to get a selfie with Shoeless Joe’s plaque too
Shoeless Joe is a different story. From what I read he was in the wrong place at the wrong time
There’s gambling in baseball, I say sarcastically. Pete Rose banned for what? Gambling? Oh wait, there’s gambling in baseball, double jeopardy at play
Pete Rose gambled on games he had an impact on didnt he?
Yes, he ALWAYS bet on the Reds. Pete broke the rules either way, but it’s years past being pardoned. He should be inducted, regardless.
I’ve read the entire Dowd Report and it implies he bet in the Reds to lose..and had 500k in mob debt.
I just love that MLB has gambling as a partner now….sure NO question of the integrity of the game on the field being compromised for moneys sake. This is a boatload of BS.
stratcrowder….is there a time limit we don’t know about in regards to “permanently ineligible?
Pete Rose accepted a lifetime ban to avoid the investigation continuing – and you think that lifetime ban should be taken back?
Fine – re-open the investigation and find out what Pete didn’t want found. Potentially, what was written and whispered for many years – that he didn’t just bet on the Reds to win.
Can you point out where it says that? Here is the link.
seanlahman.com/baseball-archive/pete-rose/dowd-rep…
Why not have Pete Rose in charge of instant replays?…
Yes, Rose (and Shoeless Joe) were involved with gambling on games they were involved in playing; there is an obvious real problem with the idea of players with a gambling interest in games they are playing in.
Obviously, with Jackson, he just got money from the gamblers to help throw the series, while Rose actually placed bets on his own games.
I don’t know if the salaries now make it less likely a player would be susceptible to throwing a game for gambling purposes, but I certainly hope MLB has pretty tight controls on this. Considering how slow they were to move on PEDs, though…..
In other news, Tampa Bay has been purchased by MGM and will be moving to Las Vegas in 2021.
I thought Las Vegas already had a minor league team?????
Ha!
Tampa Bay won 90 games this season.
Black Sox & Pete Rose were in the wrong era. Go MLB
The door is open for Pete Rose now. I don’t think they’ll be able to legally keep him from his ban any longer. It’s true that he bet on games, however, all the proof says he never tried to fix games. Because when he bet on the Reds he lost more than he won.
Didn’t he usually bet for the Reds to win anyway? Can’t see that as being a bad thing. Betting to lose and then tanking is something else entirely.
slippery slope. and not betting on certain games signals an expected loss. he accepted his ban, he should suffer the consequences
Evidence is sealed by mutual agreement between Pete and MLB.
If evidence says Pete only bet on (and not against) Reds, put the loudmouth blow hard in the Hall already.
MLB, leading the world in hypocrisy since the steroid era.
The Dowd Report (aka the evidence) is available online.
It’s true, the Dowd report was unseal in 2016 I think. It has all of Pete’s bets on the books and it tells the story of a man with a gambling problem, not someone on the fix.
folks need to remember MLB has nothing to do with the hof. it is a private non profit who makes it’s own guidelines
thestevilempire…..The rule does not state you can bet as long as it’s on your own team. I will also point out that just because verifiable evidence was not found that he ever fixed a game does not mean it wasn’t possible.
Dowd knew but was not able to get roof that Rose bet as a player too. That evidence is now available (he bet as a player manager from 1984-86 espn.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/13114874/notebook-obt… ). Rose believed he was above the rules because he was Pete Rose……he was and is wrong.
BTW at one point Rose ceased paying his Cinncy bookies in order to pay off his NY mob bookies because they threatened his life and the life of his family. Can you see how easy it would be to be coerced into fixing a game?
Forgive me if I am wrong here, please correct me but doesn’t the commissioner have to reinstate him in order to get in? If so, it seems to me at least that MLB does have something to do with it. I am not at all clear on this fact though.
Joe…..Yes, MLB would have to lift the ban in order for him to be eligible but they are still separate entities. Since he is no longer eligible to be voted on by the BBWAA it would go to the “Modern Eras Committee” which is held twice every 5 years.
Do you think they want to touch it now considering Rose’s partial confession (he never admitted to betting as a player but we now know he did) or the fact that he had “affairs” with at least one young girl.. He claims he thought she was 16, yet her sworn statement says 14/15.
seanlahman.com/baseball-archive/pete-rose/dowd-rep…
Here you go. The Dowd Report.
The HOF doesn’t have anything to do with MLB but one of the very few rules they have for induction is that the player can’t be banned from baseball (and must have played ten years.) Pretty much everything else is fair game, although there is a generic “charachter clause” which is what, ostensibly the writers are using to keep out Bonds and Clemens and Schilling, etc.
Jackson won’t get in because he’s permanently banned (as are the rest of the Black Sox) and I don’t think he even has any living relatives to advocate for him. . Rose won’t get in because his post-ban career has just sort-of confirmed that he was an unrepentant gambler on baseball and almost certainly managed and played games that were fixed.
@Cat & David, thanks for clarifying, always great to learn something about this great sport. Very much appreciated!
Joe….Happy to help.
@Cat Mando
Didn’t Pete Rose & Roger Clemens go out on double dates with their high school honeys?
No idea I only know what was reported….Dowd said in a radio interview that one of Rose’s former associates “told us that not only did he run bets, but he ran young girls for him down in spring training, ages 12 to 14.” Dowd could not obtain full proof at the time of his investigation so that was not included in his initial report, just as proof of his gambling as a player was not verified until a few years ago.
Rose sued Dowd and by then a woman did come forward.and “Rose, who was 34 and married at the time, acknowledged the relationship but said he believed it started when she was 16” (the legal age of consent in OH at the time) She disputes that and also claimed that he took her out of state as well. “Rose refused to answer more questions relating to whether he had sex with other high school girls on the grounds of his right to privacy.”
They settled the case out of court last year….dismissal with prejudice.
There was no proof that he bet on them to lose… at least that’s what they claim.
He may have made moves for winning the current game that runs counter to the integrity of future games for the sole purpose of winning money. Games are not played in a vacuum; they are affected by decisions made in previous games.
In other words, if he bet on today’s game but not tomorrow’s, then he might make decisions to sacrifice tomorrow’s game in order to win today’s; moves he wouldn’t have made had he not bet at all. This ultimately violates the spirit of fair competition and the integrity of the sport.
Having said all that; he belongs in the Hall of Fame.
Win..lose.
Draw…you owe the mob 500k and screwy things happen…maybe funding a cocaine shipment from Florida to help pay it off
Which team’s gonna be the first to be tied up in a game-rigging scandal?
Now which team BESIDES the Marlins?
Mets would be my guess
Yankees had a gambling scandal in the 80s, I recall……
I’d wagger the teams with the best analytics. And the dirty Cardinals…
this is very troubling. the possibility of corruption increased greatly.
This is a terrible development.
Better make Charlie Hustle a HOFer before he dies. What MLB has done to him is inexcusable!!!
Let’s see the evidence and then have a HOF vote already.
OverUnderDone…..Read the Dowd report, that was/is the evidence used.
Put Shoeless Joe in first…then make scumbag Rose wait 98 years like Joe has waited
Huh? Joe Jackson helped throw a World Series….come on, I know Comiskey was a jerk and probably a slimy owner, but what the Black Sox did was inexcusable.
Look at Jacksons stats from the series. He was only guilty of knowing what was going down.
As far as Comiskey, I’m sure the Wilpons have a picture of him somewhere in their office. Comiskey was as cheap as they come.
Jackson took the money, he played poorly in the games the Sox threw, and even if, as you claim, he knew about the fix, the fact that he didn’t tell anyone makes him a party to the fix, which makes him as guilty as the rest. He was also in the meetings with the gamblers. And, um, he took the money.
Jackson’s stats in the 5 games the White Sox lost (the series was best-of-9 and the Sox, by the way, were absolutely loaded and miles better than the Reds):
21 AB, 3 Runs Scored, 6 Hits.. That was much worse than his regular season averages and much worse than what he did in the games the Sox won. And Reds pitching was no great shakes.
He made several inexplicable fielding blunders (he was considered a tremendous outfielder), including throwing to the wrong base twice. in the game 1 9-1 loss. Jackson also, you know, admitted that he helped throw the series to a grand jury that was impaneled to investigate the fix.
is this going to bring more young fans and let them stay in the stadiums spending more money? commish blows!
I bet that gambling on baseball is still stupid.
It’s a nice way to catch the attention of kids, AKA future gamblers.
Pretty disgusting.
What was it, a hundred years ago Jim Bouton wrote about how much gambling interests there were in baseball? It’s there, this just makes it more in the open. Drugs are still the over-riding issue, but gambling definitely has its influences.
But it’s also like that everywhere. Fans used to laugh when Lawrence Taylor ran around and played like a drug-crazed mad man; now every NFL player runs around like a drug-crazed mad man. It’s the same with gambling.
Here come all the people who will say “this is just horrible for the game!” I “bet” it ends up being a huge success and it’ll draw a lot more interest in the games as well! If you’ve ever placed a bet on a game that you weren’t all that interested in before, it definitely makes you interested when you’re money is invested in it. I think this will be great for baseball.
it will surely attract a lot of shady crowd. if the league is after their wallets, so be it.
The league now has a large financial investment in who wins and loses…it could corrupt decision making even more. This is ridiculous
I couldn’t disagree more. There is no rosy way to paint the overall effect this will have. You think there was ever doubt about the integrity of the game before? You ain’t seen nothing yet.
Anything for more money.
And with no proof Charlie Hustle ever bet on his own games he’s out of Cooperstown why??
“No proof”? Really? Read much?
I recognize Manfred is just working as an agent of the owners, but I continue to see a legacy that is more about quick dollars than the long term interest of the game.
It’d be nice to have an Xbox mlb game worth playing.
Lmao a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one
With a total payout to MLB projected at $1 billion in the first year, each team is expected to receive more than $30 million per year. An estimated $55 billion was bet on baseball in 2017 with more than $1 billion in the 79 regulated Las Vegas sportsbooks. This will expand that regulated betting to more than 200 other sites around the country.
No one has talked about the upfront fee MLB is receiving for the Statcast live feed, but you can be sure MGM is paying for that.
MGM properties will also receive the equivalent of an enhanced MLB Extra Innings. For a casino, MLB Extra Innings is $11,000 per season. I am sure that was included in the costs to MGM and goes into the pockets of the owners.
Will that trickle down to the player payroll?
I believe it is rule MLB rule 21 ( Misconduct) that requires the teams to do everything in their power to win games ( this included spending money), of course they ignore this rule and allow tanking. Teams don’t spend to win in violation of the rule. And now they are going to become gambling houses. Where they make money not off the games but the fools who bet on them. I wonder if Pete Rose is going to be reinstated.. Naw but its OK for the billionaire owners to make money off gambling.
You say this like all teams can spend the same amount of money, which they can’t, and doing so would get the same result, which it wouldn’t, and instead just don’t spend because they make more money losing than winning, which they don’t.
no I say this like teams are tanking rather than living up to their commitments to the fans and all the public money they have invested in baseball to watch baseball, not tanking.
Because the Cubs and Astros didn’t live up to their commitments to the fans?
The myth that their tanking was the reason for winning the world series is a Myth: The Cubs bought a series. The Astros didn’t much different. look at their personnel: there is a lot of luck and timing and money involved in their winning. It wasn’t tanking and drafting. The Astros drafted 3 guys during their tank on the team , the Cubs had 1 guy who was a major contributor that was drafted in their tank; the Cubs on the 40 man ( not playing in the world series) 5 drafted players, ( only Bryant was a major contributor), 15 by trade, 13 by free agents and 5 players from previous; chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-roster-construction-timeline-gfx-20161007-htmlstory.html
The breaking down how the Astros acquired the 25 players on their World Series roster. — Amateur free agents: 2 — Waivers: 3 — MLB free agent: 5 — Draft: 6 — Trade: 9 Before 2012 They had Altuve,
Springer and Kutchel
chron.com/sports/astros/article/How-this-Astros-powerhouse-was-built-11185885.php
with 3 of those Drafted before the “tank”, Kutchel was a 7th
round pick ( a lot of luck drafting that low and getting a player),
they Drafted Mark Appel # 1 in
in 2013 instead of Kris bryant.
You’re arguing both sides of the same argument here, you realize that, right? You can’t get mad at a team for “tanking,” i.e., not paying to put good players on the field, and then also accuse them of buying championships. Your argument doesn’t make any sense.
someoldguy…..This is what 21(a) says…”(a) MISCONDUCT IN PLAYING BASEBALL. Any player or person connected with a club who shall promise or agree to lose, or to attempt to lose, or to fail to give his best efforts towards the winning of any baseball game with which he is or may be in any way concerned; or who shall intentionally fail to give his best efforts towards the winning of any such baseball game, or who shall solicit or attempt to induce any player or person connected with a club to lose, or attempt to lose, or to fail to give his best efforts towards the winning of any baseball game with which such other player or person is or may be in any way connected; or who, being solicited by any person, shall fail to inform his Major League President and the Commissioner.”
Kinda a stretch
I don’t think so: The Owner is a person connect with a baseball team. He has financial resources; which he can spend to win or not spend in tanking.. If they internationally tank, they are not committing to win every baseball game thus violating the rule.
They are attempting (even though I hate tanking) to build a better team. It would also be very hard to prove “tanking” especially when you consider actions involving clubs is the sole domain of the Commish…he is the only arbitrator in such instances.
its a well know and full accepted fact: They Tank. the MLB has admitted it and every knows it. It sure violates the spirit of competition as well as violating the vast amounts of public money given to teams to put a winning product on the field.
I’m not sure why people equate this with Rose. Rule 21(d) still stands and if a player/ump/official etc is caught gambling on baseball there will still be punishment just as there is punishment for 21(e)
(d) BETTING ON BALL GAMES. Any player, umpire, or club official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has no duty to perform shall be declared ineligible for one year.
Any player, umpire, or club or league official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible.
MLB questionably embraces gambling for the promise of huge monetary gain.
Pete Rose still not in the HOF.
Pot meet kettle.
Rule 21 d is the only MLB Rule posted in every clubhouse since the late 1920’s. Rose had to have seen it, literally, thousands of times and decided he was above the rules and got caught.
Any player today that bets on baseball is still subject to the same rule.
Endorsing gambling does not break any rule. Gambling on games you are involved in, does break a rule.
Use some logic first.
Cam……Actually players/umps etc can’t bet on any MLB game….just 2 different penalties.
Kennesaw Mountain Landis just rolled over in his grave.
Then Pete Rose should be admitted into the Hall of Fame.
Why? Players/umps/officials/employees are still not allowed to bet on baseball whether it is legal or not. Rule 21 still stands.
what happens to mlb the show then
First thing first – people need to understand that the MLB, and the Hall of Fame, are two different entities. MLB does not own, nor do they control, the ins and outs of the HOF.
Secondly, regarding Pete Rose – he accepted a lifetime ban. It wasn’t forced on him – he was presented with the option to take the ban and stop further digging into his misconduct. He bet on games he was involved in – an absolute no no. Move on already.
I really don’t know how to feel about all this. On one hand… it shouldn’t really affect anything on the field. On the other hand… it just feels for some reason like nothing good is going to come of this.
“Official Gaming Partner of MLB.”
OK. Enough. Rose goes in the HOF.
Man… gawd HELP the first guy caught trying to throw a game. They’re humans. It’s inevitable.
Thinking more on it, this will (in my opinion) also open the door for angry journalists to make things uncomfortable for MLB. Somebody with a chip on their shoulder is bound to eventually ask if such-and-such, a gold glover, maybe didn’t make that error in the ninth on purpose…
It could also be mayhem for the umpiring crews. They catch a lot of grief now for missed calls. Can you IMAGINE the microscope an ump would be under if the strike zone is inconsistent in an important game?
The question is whether they let Pete host a poker table.
Who goes in first? Shoeless Joe Jackson or Pete Rose?
As long as Manfred is still commissioner, neither. I hardly believe hypocrisy is a trait he shies away from.
What’s the over under when ey starts trashing members of Yankee management/front office?
Mid game betting would be fascinating. Your team is down by three in the 6th. Make a bet.
Oh, that kind of gaming. Drat, I was hoping it would provide more options for Nintendo and Microsoft to finally once again get some good baseball video games.
Got it, official gambling is fine for MLB, unofficial by Rose wasn’t.
Looks like someone is a hypocrite to me.
Why not name a major league Pope to oversee the game.
doxiedevil……..You don’t got it. Rule 21 (d) still stands. Players/umps/owners/etc will not be allowed to bet on baseball or they can be placed on the ineligible for one year. “Any player, umpire, or club or league official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible.”
Holy jeez – can of worms. Not going to bring more people into ballparks.
But – may lead to more creative heckle-ing.
Gambling sucks. And Major League Baseball throwing in with gamblers sucks even worse.
“Gaming”, my ass.
So how does Pete Rose react to this? How long can it be held against him that he bet on his team to win?
Pandora’s box…look out…