Major League Baseball has popped up on the sports gambling radar yet again thanks to Commissioner Rob Manfred. His most recent statements point towards the league embracing sports betting and even hint at a possible franchise in the most storied gambling town in the country—Las Vegas. These comments are the latest in Manfred’s apparent flirtation with the emerging industry.
Manfred has had several instances where he has addressed the ongoing issue of sports gambling legalization. Manfred’s interview with ESPN’s Mike & Mike radio show back in 2016 revealed that sports commissioners across the leagues are recognizing that gambling landscape and market are changing, and that baseball may finally need to re-evaluate its position on the matter of legalized sports gambling. He conveyed that he is willing to reassess the relationship between baseball and legalized betting.
Manfred joins NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in appreciating not only the surging popularity surrounding sports betting, but also the profitable side of it given the proper regulations. Silver even wrote an op-ed in the New York Times back in 2014 disclosing his opinion that PASPA should be repealed or amended and sports betting should be brought into the light. Manfred echoed these sentiments at a recent Yahoo Finance conference.
Manfred went on to express that professional sports leagues may end up in better shape by embracing the fact that sports betting actually does occur. He went on to say that by acknowledging this rather than pretending that it isn’t happening, regulatory oversight can be put in place to protect the integrity of sports and those who participate in it. He also admitted that sports betting does engage the fans and can be used to fuel a team or league’s fan base and popularity. He agrees that Commissioner Silver has a healthy perspective that has influenced the other leagues as well.
The major professional sports leagues have long been against the idea of sports betting. While the NFL and NCAA are undoubtedly the most aggressive, each league is responsible for delaying what many now believe to be the inevitable. Las Vegas has long been the epitome of sports betting, and now it seems sports franchises may be on their way there as well. The NHL just launched a franchise in Sin City and the Oakland Raiders proposed a move, though that deal ultimately fell through. Manfred recently described Vegas as a “viable market” and hinted at the possibility of a team launching there. The NBA has been quiet on a sports franchise in Vegas, but will likely not pass up the chance given the other leagues make a similar move.
New Mexico is very close to Nevada, although their sports gambling markets differ. Nevada sports gambling is legal and happens in physical sportsbooks, whereas New Mexico sports gambling happens through legal offshore sportsbooks. Even still, New Mexico residents may soon have a few more teams to bet on. They may also be able to have sportsbooks hosted in their state if the leagues keep moving towards total legalization.