Major League sports have some very strict policies when it comes to gambling…it is against the rules!  And it is the one sure way to get a player suspended and even banned from playing.  When it comes to gambling in baseball, the MLB has a no tolerance policy.

Arguably one of the best baseball players in the game commonly referred to as Charlie Hussle – Pete Rose – was banned for gambling in 1989.  New York Giants player Jimmy O’Connell was the first player to be banned for gambling in 1924.

Last week Major League Baseball banned San Diego Padres player Tucupita Marcano for violation of the sports betting rules. 

Four other players have been suspended for one year for violations related to gambling – Oakland Athletics pitcer Michael Kelly, Padres minor league pitcher Jay Groome, Philadelphia Phillies infielder Jose Rodriguez, and Arizona Kiamondback pitcher Andrew Saalfrank.

The penalties were handed down after an investigation by the MLB Department of Investigations.  None of the players have filed for an appeal.

According to the MLB rule book – rule 21: “any player, umpire or club or league official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform, shall be declared permanently ineligible.”  The rule further states that if a player places a bet on a team in which he has not connection, the punishment shall be a one year suspension.

The players are required each year to attend meetings on the rule and education programs on betting.

The players denied any inside knowledge in relation to the games and the MLB does not believe the outcome of any of the games were influenced by the bets made.

MLB Commission Rob Manfred spoke on the ruling saying, “the strict enforcement of Major League Baseball’s rules and policies governing gambling conduct is a critical component of upholding our most important priority: protecting the integrity of our games for the fans. The longstanding prohibition against betting on Major League Baseball games by those in the sport has been a bedrock principle for over a century. We have been clear that the privilege of playing in baseball comes with a responsibility to refrain from engaging in certain types of behavior that are legal for other people.”

He continued, “since the Supreme Court decision opened the door to legalized sports betting, we have worked with licensed sports betting operators and other third parties to put ourselves in a better position from an integrity perspective through the transparency that a regulated sports betting system can provide. MLB will continue to invest heavily in integrity monitoring, educational programming and awareness initiatives with the goal of ensuring strict adherence to this fundamental rule of our game.”

The MLB was made aware of the infractions after a legal sports betting operator informed the League of past betting made by the players.  The records showed that Marcano placed over two dozen bets totaling $150,000.

Marcano previously played for the Pittsburgh Pirates – a team that was the subject of the bets – before injuring his ACL last year.  The Pirates spoke on Marcano and his actions saying, “we are extremely disappointed in Tucupita’s actions and are fully supportive of Major League Baseball’s ruling. The Pirates, along with MLB, the Players Association, and every Club, work to ensure all involved within our game are aware of the rules and policies around gambling. While the thorough investigation revealed no evidence of any games being compromised, influenced, or manipulated in any way in this case, protecting the integrity of our game is paramount.”

MLB requires its personnel to participate annually in sports betting education programs that emphasize the policies applicable to respective groups. Each Spring Training, all Major League and Minor League players must attend in-person sessions that specify the requirements of Major League Rule 21 and MLB’s Sports Betting Policy as well as other best practices.

Marcano is the second player this year to be banned for gambling; in April the NBA banned Toronto Raptor Jontay Porter whose bets included the loss of the Raptors.