Major League Baseball said Monday that authorized sportsbooks will limit the amount of money that can be wagered on pitches, a day after charges were announced against two players accused of pitch-rigging.
The changes “cap wagers on pitch-level markets at $200 and exclude those bets from parlays,” and it will affect 98% of the U.S. betting market, the league said in a statement.
On Sunday, a federal indictment was announced against two Cleveland Guardians players, closer Emmanuel Clase and starting pitcher Luis Leandro, in connection with an alleged scheme to rig pitches to impact sports bets. Attorneys for both have said their clients are innocent of wrongdoing.
In Monday's statement, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said the league will continue working to protect baseball's integrity.
“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,” he said.
The bets that are now limited involve the “micro-bet” market, the MLB said, which is when gamblers bet on balls or strikes or even the speed of a pitch.
Those bets “present heightened integrity risks” because they often don’t matter to whether the game is won or lost, and a single player can determine the outcome,” the league said.
Ortiz and Clase are charged with one count each of wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, and money laundering conspiracy.
Ortiz’s attorney, Chris Georgalis, said that Ortiz “has never, and would never, improperly influence a game — not for anyone and not for anything.”
Clase’s attorney, Michael Ferrara, said in a statement Monday that his client is also innocent. "Emmanuel Clase has devoted his life to baseball and doing everything in his power to help his team win,” Ferrara said.
FanDuel President Christian Genetski said in Monday’s announcement of betting limits that the platform works with sports leagues to protect the integrity of games.
“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," Genetski said.
Ortiz appeared in federal court Monday and a judge allowed his release on $500,000 bond under several conditions, including that he surrender his passport, The Associated Press reported. He did not say anything in court, the news service reported.
Last month, federal prosecutors also announced charges against more than 30 people accused in illegal gambling schemes, including prominent NBA figures like Portland Trail Blazer head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier.
Billups appeared in federal court last month and did not enter a plea. He was released on condition that he limit his travel; refrain from gambling; avoid contact with defendants, alleged victims and members of what federal prosecutors described as the Mafia; and adhere to standard conditions regarding firearms, NBC affiliate KGW of Portland, Oregon, reported.
Rozier’s attorney denied allegations that Rozier faked an injury in a game where he allegedly tipped off his childhood friend, who allegedly placed a bet with that information.
