In many ways, baseball and betting have been linked together ever since the sport’s early days. But what started as casual wagers between friends and colleagues, has grown into a complex, regulated industry worth billions of dollars.
Today, baseball fans who wish to place wagers on the sport can choose from an array of different bets and platforms, of which you can read more on pokerstrategy.com to find a safe and suitable option. But how did this all start? Here we take a closer look at the history and evolution of baseball betting.
The Early Days of Baseball Gambling
Baseball betting began already back in the mid-1800s when the sport was still developing its rules. Back then, most games were played in small towns rather than big cities. Eager fans could then bet on almost everything during games, such as which team would win, how many runs would be scored, or how many innings the game would last. Early baseball betting was often a social activity as much as a financial one. Wagers were made in ballparks, saloons, and even on the streets, sometimes with prizes being goods, meals, or drinks rather than just money.
At the same time, players weren’t paid regular salaries back then, so many players also placed bets as a way to make money on the sport. This resulted in some players throwing games on purpose to win their bets.
Nevertheless, gambling was clearly part of building the sport. In his book “Baseball in the Garden of Eden,” historian John Thorn even called gambling “the vital fertilizer” for the sport’s growth. It was part of the game from the very start, though unregulated and not always on the most fair terms.
The Black Sox Scandal
While there were some baseball betting scandals dating back to the 1800s, the biggest one happened in 1919 with the Chicago White Sox. Then eight players were accused of losing the World Series on purpose in exchange for money from gamblers. Apparently, the players were promised between $70,000 to $100,000 to throw the series to the Cincinnati Reds.
Even though the players were found not guilty in court, the new baseball commissioner banned all eight players from baseball for life. The Black Sox Scandal showed how dangerous gambling could be for the sport’s integrity. So after 1919, baseball tried to distance itself from gambling. The sport stayed away from betting for decades, even though many fans continued to bet illegally.
Sports Betting Goes Underground
For most of the 20th century, legal sports betting was only allowed in Nevada. In 1992, Congress passed PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act) which made sports betting illegal in most states.
This law was supposed to protect sports from gambling corruption, but it didn’t stop people from betting. It just pushed more betting to illegal operators and offshore websites as they were starting to open up.
The Rise of Modern Sports Betting Sites
The internet changed everything for sports betting, even when it was still mostly illegal. Many online sportsbooks based in other countries started taking bets from American bettors. These sites often offered much more convenience than traditional bookmakers.
The next real breakthrough came in 2018 when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down PASPA. This ruling allowed individual states to legalize sports betting if they wanted to. The decision was based on states’ rights, as the court said the federal government couldn’t force states to keep sports betting illegal.
Technology Transforms Baseball Betting
The legalization of sports betting in many states coincided with major advances in technology that made betting more available and convenient than ever before, thanks to modern online betting sites. Mobile betting apps became the preferred way to place bets for many baseball fans, as these platforms offer a lot of features old-fashioned bookies simply can’t match such as:
- Live Betting: Bettors can now place wagers while games are happening. They can bet on the next batter, the next inning, or adjust their bets based on what’s happening in real-time.
- Advanced Statistics: Modern betting sites use detailed player data to set odds. Information like pitch velocity, exit velocity, and defensive efficiency helps create more accurate betting lines.
- Hundreds of Bet Types: Today’s baseball bettors can wager on almost anything imaginable. Beyond simple win/loss bets, they can bet on individual player statistics, specific innings, and complex combinations of outcomes.
The convenience of mobile betting has brought many new people into baseball betting thanks to a clear growth in mobile betting adoption alongside state-level legalization.
The Current State of Baseball Betting
Today, baseball betting is legal in most U.S. states and continues to grow rapidly. The industry generates billions of dollars in revenue annually. The variety of betting options continues to expand. Bettors can now wager on minor league games and international baseball, in addition to major US teams.
Major League Baseball has embraced this change and now has official partnerships with several betting companies. The league provides official data to sportsbooks and even shows odds during broadcasts.
Future Trends
As more states legalize sports betting and technology continues to advance, baseball betting will likely become even more integrated into how fans experience the sport. The simple wagers of the 1800s have evolved into a complex, technology-driven industry that generates billions of dollars and engages millions of fans.
