Senators press MLB over alleged betting manipulation
Growing concern in Washington over sports-betting manipulation has now placed Major League Baseball under a brighter spotlight.
What began as an isolated criminal case involving two pitchers has evolved into a broader examination of how U.S. sports leagues monitor, and disclose, potential integrity breaches.
A congressional push rooted in wider concerns
In recent years, as legal sports wagering has expanded, lawmakers have taken a more active interest in how leagues guard against corruption.
That scrutiny intensified again this month when Senators Ted Cruz of Texas and Maria Cantwell of Washington asked MLB to explain what it knows about alleged pitch-rigging by Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz.
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According to reporting from ProFootball Talk, both players were charged in federal court after prosecutors accused them of manipulating pitches to influence betting outcomes.
The senators outlined their questions in a November 14 letter to Commissioner Rob Manfred, writing, “The integrity of the game is paramount” and insisting that MLB “clearly demonstrate” how it protects the sport from improper gambling influence.
Concerns About a Broader Pattern
While the Clase and Ortiz indictments prompted the inquiry, the senators signaled unease that the episode might represent more than a single lapse.
As cited by ProFootball Talk, they warned that “an isolated incident of game rigging might be dismissed as an aberration,” but growing issues across multiple sports point to “a deeper, systemic vulnerability.”
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They argued that Congress should examine the matter before any misconduct becomes more widespread.
Their questions to Manfred mirror a previous request they made to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after basketball confronted its own gambling controversy earlier this year.
The lawmakers are seeking, among other information, a list of MLB’s internal investigations dating back to January 1, 2020.
Transparency Tensions Within Professional Sports
Historically, major U.S. sports leagues have preferred to handle integrity matters privately. According to ProFootball Talk’s analysis, league officials often keep internal probes under wraps to avoid damaging headlines and the possibility of external intervention.
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Such an approach is not new: for decades, professional leagues have argued that self-regulation is essential to preserving competitive balance and fan trust.
That discretion, however, is precisely what congressional leaders say they need to examine.
Lawmakers contend that the rapid growth of legal betting, paired with alleged manipulation cases, demands clearer oversight, even if leagues are reluctant to invite it.
How the NFL Fits Into the Picture
While MLB and the NBA have recently confronted public wagering-related cases, the NFL has not faced a comparable scandal this year.
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But as ProFootball Talk noted, a lack of public allegations does not necessarily indicate a lack of internal issues, it may simply suggest that the league’s internal controls, or its disclosure practices, differ from those of its counterparts.
With Congress showing increased willingness to question how leagues detect and report suspicious behavior, the industry could soon face more direct pressure to reveal how it polices itself.
Whether the latest inquiries lead to broader regulation remains unclear, but lawmakers appear intent on ensuring that the leagues’ assurances are backed by verifiable oversight.
Sources: ProFootball Talk; U.S. Senate correspondence
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