MLB's probe into Guardians pitchers is being assisted by Ohio regulatory authorities
In a recent development, the Ohio Casino Control Commission is collaborating with Major League Baseball to investigate suspicious betting activity involving Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz.
The investigation was initiated after the commission was notified by an Ohio licensed sportsbook and subsequently contacted by Major League Baseball. The gambling activity on the pitches was flagged by a betting-integrity firm and forwarded to MLB.
Both Clase and Ortiz have been suspended by Major League Baseball as part of the ongoing sports betting investigation. The suspension is non-disciplinary and paid leave, set to last until August 31.
The nature of the investigation remains undisclosed, but Governor Mike DeWine has expressed concerns about the potential harm to athletes and the integrity of the game. He has called for banning player-specific "prop bets," particularly "microbets" on highly specific player-controlled events like individual pitches.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission is drafting rules to prohibit these kinds of wagers to protect the integrity of sports and athletes, prompted directly by concerns raised from this MLB gambling probe involving Clase and Ortiz.
DeWine has stated that the harm to athletes and the integrity of the game is clear, and the benefits are not worth the harm. He has also criticised the prop betting experiment in the country, stating that it has failed badly.
It is important to note that the cases of Clase and Ortiz may not be related. Clase is being investigated for unusual betting activity on a specific pitch he threw in June, which reportedly triggered alerts from a gambling integrity firm. Luis Ortiz, on the other hand, is being investigated for two pitches thrown by him that received higher than usual betting activity during his starts at Seattle on June 15 and against St. Louis on June 27.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission conducted an independent investigation in 2023 regarding suspicious wagering activity on the University of Alabama's baseball team. It is worth mentioning that Ohio does not allow prop bets on college sports athletes.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission's next meeting is scheduled for August 20, 20XX. The commission and Major League Baseball are still working on the investigation, and no further comments have been made by the Ohio Casino Control Commission regarding the investigation.
DeWine has made these statements in a statement on July 31, expressing his concerns and the need for action to protect the integrity of sports and athletes in Ohio. The investigation is ongoing, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Sports betting on MLB, specifically involving pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz of the Cleveland Guardians, is under investigation by the Ohio Casino Control Commission and Major League Baseball. Governor Mike DeWine has called for a ban on player-specific prop bets, such as microbets on individual pitches, due to concerns about potential harm to athletes and the integrity of sports.
