Prop bets become ground zero for betting backlash

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Real bets from last year’s Super Bowl: How many yards will Patrick Mahomes have? What songs will Kendrick Lamar perform? Will Travis Kelce’s mom show some skin? “Prop bets”—wagers on specific events within a game—can be silly or downright ridiculous, but, according to the Wall Street Journal, they’re a major driver of gambling revenue…along with being a major source of heartburn for sports leagues. Easier to fix: Since prop bets often only involve one player—rather than a whole team—they’re easier to rig. For example: NBA players Terry Rozier and Jontay Porter are accused of leaving games early to make sure their stats stayed below a certain level, having tipped off bettors beforehand. Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were recently indicted for telling bettors when they would throw certain pitches. Leagues are trying to quell controversies and prevent similar scandals so fans don’t lose faith in the integrity of the sports and direct their eyeballs elsewhere. The NBA is considering changing how players report injuries, and the MLB is working to limit bets on individual pitches. Harder to fix: But changes can be a tough sell to sportsbooks, which use prop bets to incentivize users to place higher-paying parlays, which include multiple bets (and more chances to lose). Big picture: Americans bet close to $150 billion on sports last year and the sports betting industry netted a record $13.7 billion, according to the American Gaming Association.—BC