Examining Football Team's Gambling Accusations Reveals Possible Regulatory Loopholes
The Indianapolis Colts wrapped up their mandatory mini-camp on Wednesday, sans cornerback Isaiah Rodgers Sr., who has been absent from the team since allegations of rampant betting activity surfaced within the team facility.
Within the past week, reports have swirled that Rodgers placed numerous wagers, including bets on his own team, according to a source privy to the activities.
In recent months, several high-profile NCAA Division I schools have faced a wave of betting cases, ensnaring over 40 student-athletes and one former coach. At the University of Alabama, baseball coach Brad Bohannon was fired following rumors of his communication with an Ohio sports bettor about a wager on the LSU Tigers against Alabama.
Moreover, an MLS player is presently under suspension due to allegations of taking a payment from a Brazilian match-fixing ring to intentionally draw a yellow card. Earlier this year, the NFL suspended four Detroit Lions players for betting from team facilities, and ESPN hinted at impending additional investigations.
While some perceive these incidents as evidence that the system is working, concerns persist regarding potential enforcement gaps, especially when players hide their betting activities through proxies. Reports suggest that Rodgers' betting was conducted through an associate's account.
three unnamed regulatory sources, each holding high-level positions in prominent states since the PASPA decision, confirmed these concerns to Sports Handle, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the story.
States typically regulate prohibited bettor lists, containing active professionals, team, and league employees. However, monitoring and identifying non-star players can prove challenging, particularly when betting online.
To date, no state has a statutory mandate compelling leagues to provide a comprehensive prohibited bettor list to regulators and operators. In Iowa, the NBA is the sole professional sports league that provides such a list to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission Administrator, Brian Ohorilko.
Rodgers' situation highlights other complications. While Indiana has rules against proxy betting, professional athletes can still evade detection by enlisting runners to place their wagers. It has been reported that multiple athletes utilize runners for such illicit activities.
In terms of investigatory tools, no all-encompassing instrument exists for leagues to review gambling cases. However, leagues can employ third-party integrity monitoring services or geolocation technology for determining a bettor's location.
U.S. Integrity and Odds On Compliance recently launched ProhiBet, which aims to serve as a central platform for monitoring compliance requirements associated with player exclusion lists. The platform will employ an encrypted, decentralized, cross-monitoring, and notification system.
Kenny Moore II, a Colts teammate of Rodgers, expressed empathy for Rodgers during a recent interview, vowing to help him persevere through these troubling times.
Jay Kornegay, executive vice president of race and sportsbook operations at SuperBook Sports, expressed little surprise at the uptick in betting activity among professional athletes. Kornegay, speaking in the US Bets' Ask a Bookmaker column, acknowledged that some athletes attempt to circumvent league policies by disguising their wagers.
Violations of league betting policy typically do not rise to a criminal level, but scandals involving match manipulation may have a criminal association. The Michigan Gaming Control Board does not possess the authority to investigate gaming crimes on the internet. Instead, it collaborates with entities such as the Michigan State Police and the state's Attorney General's Office when appropriate.
The NFL chose not to comment on the Colts' case. Indiana Gaming Commission Deputy Director Jenny Reske confirmed that the agency is looking into the matter.
Additional reporting by Jill R. Dorson and Mike Seely.
- Jay Kornegay, executive vice president of race and sportsbook operations at SuperBook Sports, has acknowledged that some professional athletes attempt to circumvent league policies by disguising their wagers.
- In the US Bets' Ask a Bookmaker column, Kornegay expressed little surprise at the uptick in betting activity among professional athletes.
- U.S. Integrity and Odds On Compliance recently launched ProhiBet, which aims to serve as a central platform for monitoring compliance requirements associated with player exclusion lists.
- The platform will employ an encrypted, decentralized, cross-monitoring, and notification system.
- Violations of league betting policy typically do not rise to a criminal level, but scandals involving match manipulation may have a criminal association.
