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Anderson, Paul M. --- "Gambling on Sports" [2011] ELECD 816; in Nafziger, A.R. James; Ross, F. Stephen (eds), "Handbook on International Sports Law" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2011)

Book Title: Handbook on International Sports Law

Editor(s): Nafziger, A.R. James; Ross, F. Stephen

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781847206336

Section: Chapter 7

Section Title: Gambling on Sports

Author(s): Anderson, Paul M.

Number of pages: 46

Extract:

7 Gambling on sports
Paul M. Anderson



I. INTRODUCTION
On November 5, 2010, a Major League Baseball (MLB) betting scandal came to light
when New York Mets clubhouse manager Charlie Samuels was suspended by the club and
surrendered to authorities for placing bets on baseball and football games with a mob
ring.1 This incident culminated a larger, five-year investigation of illegal betting by Mets
employees.2 It originated when authorities determined that the team's head grounds-
keeper had been part of a $360 million gambling ring. The specific investigation of
Samuels began when the Mets contacted the police and district attorney because they
suspected he was `misappropriating funds in a number of ways'3 and may have raided the
team's accounts and sold memorabilia to help cover his gambling debts.4
Unfortunately, this example is not unique. The sports arena is frequently shaken by
scandal when players and employees bet on their events or contests. In response, legislators,
courts, and sports organizations throughout the world have taken measures to combat the
problem of corrupt gambling on sports, while at the same time promoting controlled,
revenue-producing gambling activity. This chapter focuses broadly on the regulation of
sports-related gambling by the United States, several other countries, and international
sports organizations. What follows is essentially a comparative study of alternative regula-
tory institutions and instruments. Before we turn to this body of law, however, it will be
helpful to ask why regulation is essential to the integrity ...