MLB Tackles Integrity Concerns in Legalized Sports Betting Era

As of October 26th, 2025, Major League Baseball (MLB) commissioner Rob Manfred is defending the league's business partnerships with gambling companies, stating they are a necessary tool to catch wrongdoers in the era of legalized sports betting.

Since the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision that made sports wagers legal throughout most of the country, MLB, like other major sports leagues, has both profited from and helped to popularize sports betting. Manfred argues that the crucial issue is having access to data from sportsbooks, which allows the league to track unusual betting patterns and investigate potential integrity issues.

The commissioner acknowledges that MLB did not ask for legalized sports betting, but says the league must adapt to the new environment. Manfred's comments come as MLB is currently investigating Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz following reports of suspicious wagering activity during their outings.

Manfred also addresses concerns over prop bets, which are tied to specific in-game outcomes and have been at the heart of several recent scandals. While the players' union favors eliminating prop bets, the commissioner says MLB is discussing the issue with various stakeholders.

Despite the challenges, Manfred insists the league is "really vigilant" on issues surrounding legalized sports betting and is working to protect the integrity of the game. The commissioner says MLB has great systems in place to monitor for potential wrongdoing, and is providing resources to players to address any problems related to sports betting.