Cleveland, OhioThe Ohio Casino Control Commission and Major League Baseball are both looking into the gambling activities of Guardians pitchers Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase.
In Ohio, the OCCC is in charge of upholding the integrity of skill-based amusement machines, sports gaming, casino gaming, and fantasy competitions. Ohio legalized sports betting on January 1, 2023.
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In an email to cleveland.com, OCCC associate general counsel Emily Berner stated:
The Commission began an inquiry in accordance with its statutory duties, both separately and in conjunction with Major League Baseball’s probe. A report will be presented to the Commission members upon completion of the investigation.
It’s crucial to keep in mind that the Commission is still looking into the anomalous betting behavior involving two Cleveland Guardians pitchers that it was notified about.
The OCCC has the authority to suggest criminal prosecutions or civil sanctions to law enforcement.
MLB declared on July 3 that Ortiz would be placed on paid leave while his gambling behavior was being looked into. Clase, the American League’s top closer for the previous four years, was named as a participant in the same inquiry by MLB on July 28.
Ortiz and Clase were placed on paid non-disciplinary leave by MLB until August 31 at that time.
A betting integrity group called IC360 reportedly alerted licensed sportsbooks about odd betting activity surrounding specific pitches that Ortiz threw during games, according to ESPN, when MLB began its inquiry into Ortiz. Soon later, MLB made its inquiry public.
Sources claim that Ortiz and Clase are under investigation for allegedly influencing prop bets while pitching during games.
Prop bets, often known as microbets, are wagers that can be made on certain sports occurrences, like the outcome of a baseball pitch or a basketball shooting.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine demanded on July 31 that the OCCC stop placing prop bets on the state’s professional teams.
Allegedly, Ortiz and Clase’s strange betting behavior originated in Ohio, New Jersey, and New York.
