In the wake of the indictments of Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, MLB has announced it will restrict the amount bettors can wager on individual pitches.
The league confirmed it has collaborated with major sportsbooks to set a limit of $200 on the micro bets that were the subject of rigged pitches from the Cleveland Guardians’ pitchers. In addition, bets on individual pitches will be excluded from parlays.
The new regulation does not ban the micro bets, but the $200 limit will make it more difficult for players and bettors to make a meaningful profit. In the case of Clase and Ortiz, prosecutors allege that bettors won as much as $58,000 on some wagers and over $400,000 in total.
In a press release, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said, “Since the Supreme Court decision opened the door to legalized sports betting, Major League Baseball has continuously worked with industry and regulatory stakeholders across the country to uphold our most important priority: protecting the integrity of our games for the fans.”
Ohio Governor Leads Calls for Prop Betting Ban
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has been leading the calls for a limit on micro bets since the two Cleveland players were placed on leave by MLB in July. Manfred said DeWine was instrumental in the new regulations, adding, “I commend Ohio Governor DeWine for his leadership on this issue over the last several months.”
DeWine had called for a complete ban on not only micro bets, but all prop bets, stating, “The harm to athletes and the integrity of the game is clear, and the benefits are not worth the harm. The prop betting experiment in this country has failed badly. I call on the Casino Control Commission to correct this problem and remove all prop bets from the Ohio marketplace.”
That has not occurred. It is unclear whether the concession to merely limit micro bets to $200 per pitch and exclude them from parlays was at the request of sportsbooks.
In his statement, Manfred added, “I also commend the industry for working with us to take action on a national solution to address the risks posed by these pitch-level markets, which are particularly vulnerable to integrity concerns. We look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders, including licensed sports betting operators, elected officials and regulators, to ensure we are always protecting the integrity of our game.”
Clase & Ortiz Released on Bail, Claim Innocence
Following their arrests, Clase and Ortiz have both been released on bail. Clase posted his $500,000 bail, which is more than the total amount bettors won on all the rigged pitches going back to 2023, according to prosecutors.
The bribes the players accepted were worth even less, with the indictment noting they were paid sums of $5,000 and $7,000. In some cases, Clase wired a few thousand dollars to bettors to wager on his behalf. The winnings and bribes pale in significance to the 27-year-old’s salary. Clase’s contract is worth $4.5 million a year.
Ortiz was on a contract worth $780,000 per year and reportedly received payments of $5,000 and $7,000 to throw two rigged pitches in games in June. Bettors are alleged to have won $60,000 on those wagers.
It raises the question of why the players became involved in a scheme that carries a high risk of ending their lucrative careers. If money were not the motivating factor, then limiting the size of bets may not address the issue.
The players’ attorneys insist their clients are innocent. Ortiz’s lawyer, Chris Georgalis, said he “has never, and would never, improperly influence a game — not for anyone and not for anything.”
Clase’s attorney, Michael J. Ferrera, similarly stated, “Emmanuel is innocent of all charges and looks forward to clearing his name in court.”
Other Leagues Weigh Pros & Cons of Prohibition
Critics of implementing a ban on prop bets have argued that it risks sending bettors to offshore, unregulated platforms, where any betting anomalies would be harder to detect.
The American Gaming Association (AGA), comprising major gaming companies and other stakeholders, has spoken out against betting restrictions. An AGA spokesperson commented, “Prohibition doesn’t stop betting — it stops oversight. Illegal operators won’t honor bans, won’t partner with leagues, and won’t protect players or fans.”
Nevertheless, DeWine has continued his quest to ban the bets. He called on other leagues to follow MLB’s example and restrict prop betting. He added, “By limiting the ability to place large wagers on micro-prop bets, Major League Baseball is taking affirmative steps to protect the integrity of the game and reduce the incentives to participate in improper betting schemes. I urge other sports leagues to follow Major League Baseball’s example with similar action.”
Lawmakers have been pressuring the NBA to take action to prevent more illegal betting incidents in the wake of the recent scandal. Many states, including Ohio, already prohibit prop betting on college sports, and the NCAA has called on other states to introduce bans. With more college basketball players implicated in a betting scandal this week, those calls will increase.
Prediction Markets Can Capitalize if Sportsbooks are Limited
In the meantime, prediction market platforms have opened up markets on college sports and prop betting. For now, markets do not extend to micro bets on individual plays and pitches; however, if regulators limit sportsbooks from offering these wagers, companies such as Kalshi and Polymarket could see an opportunity.
Sportsbooks have also gotten involved in prediction markets. DraftKings said it will launch its own platform by the end of this year, but emphasized that it will work closely with leagues and state regulators during the process.
FanDuel has also made a deal with CME and could launch markets in the near future. The company is the official betting sponsor of MLB. In response to the new limits, President Christian Genetski stated, “The legalized sports betting industry is built on a foundation of dialogue and collaboration with our league partners and the states in which we operate.”
“This initiative illustrates our unwavering commitment to building a legal and regulated market that roots out abuses by those who seek to undermine fair competition and damage the integrity of the games we love.”
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In the wake of the indictments of Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, MLB has announced it will restrict the amount bettors can wager on individual pitches. The league confirmed it has collaborated with major sportsbooks to set a limit of $200 on the micro bets that were the subject of rigged pitches from the Cleveland
The post MLB Restricts Betting on Pitches, Clase & Ortiz Released on Bail appeared first on CasinoBeats.