Copyright The New York Times
The day after two Cleveland Guardians pitchers were charged with setting up rigged bets on individual pitches, Major League Baseball announced that its betting company partners would limit this specific kind of bet, which the league said is more liable to manipulation. The changes, which are to be implemented across the sportsbooks that compose nearly all of the legal sports betting market in the United States, include a new $200 limit for bets on individual pitches. They also will ban including pitches in parlay bets, which combine wagers for longer odds, but a larger potential payout. Rob Manfred, the M.L.B. commissioner, described these changes in a statement as “a national solution to address the risks posed by these pitch-level markets, which are particularly vulnerable to integrity concerns.” He added: “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.”
