Athletes need to be careful
Ohio is still in its first week of legalized sports betting, but already a couple of the state’s highest-profile residents have expressed concerns. The first was J.B. Bickerstaff, head coach of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers. Speaking with The News-Herald, Bickerstaff talked about the proliferation of sportsbooks ads, saying, “You can’t hope but notice it and see it’s there. It’s something I try to stay away from as best as I possibly can.”
For Bickerstaff, the big concern is his players. “I do think it’s something that moving forward we’re going to have to spend more time on educating ourselves and all of our guys on, because we know the downside or the dark side of it,” he said. “We have to be careful. There are so many things that can lead to trouble, even that you might see as innocent.”
Offering up an example of a potentially problematic situation, Bickerstaff said he could envision an innocent scenario in which he might be out for a walk and a fan says hi and casually asks about the status of an injured player. Bickerstaff might not think anything about answering the fan’s question, but now that person can use that accidental inside information for betting.
Bickerstaff said he has no problem with sports betting, he just wants it “to be managed properly and people need to be educated about it.”
Operators, take heed
And then there is Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. DeWine, who signed the bill that legalized sports betting in the state in December 2021, has put sportsbooks on blast for their advertising practices.
“The companies that are doing the massive advertising need to be aware that they are being looked at very closely by the governor and the Casino Control Commission in regard to statements that they are making.”
“We believe that, in at least several occasions, they have already crossed the line. My message to them is this will not be tolerated in the state of Ohio.”
Specifically, DeWine takes issue with sports betting operators running ads that target underage people and ads that promise things like free bets that are not really “free.”
“I think they also need to be very careful, candidly, in regard to the claim of free money and free gaming,” he said. “I think when you look at the fine print, you try to figure out what it really means, it doesn’t mean certainly what is implied by the TV advertising.”
“We’re paying attention. I watch TV,” he said.
Before sports betting even launched in Ohio, two sportsbooks were singled out by the Ohio Casino Control Commission. In November, Barstool Sports held an event on the University of Toledo campus during which representatives encouraged people to register accounts with the sportsbook. Penn Sports Interactive, which owns Barstool Sports, could be subject to a $250,000 fine.
Then, last Friday, the commission said it may fine DraftKings $350,000 for mailing over 2,500 ads to state residents under the age of 21.
Image credit: Dana Lewin on Unsplash
