Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Wednesday 27 February 2019
MLB makes last-minute push to ban bets on spring training

By REGINA GARCIA CANO Control Board. "While we
Associated Press do this, we have requested
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A re- Pennsylvania sports wa-
quest from Major League gering operators to refrain
Baseball to gambling reg- from offering wagers on
ulators to ban betting on spring training games."
spring training games was Sportsbooks in Mississippi
quickly rejected in Nevada are accepting bets on
and is under consideration the games. The executive
in at least three other states director of the Mississippi
that recently legalized Gaming Commission, Allen
sports betting. Godfrey, said he has not re-
The league asked for the sponded to MLB.
ban on Wednesday last New Jersey is reviewing the
week — the day before league's request.
the first scheduled spring The Westgate Las Vegas
training game — arguing Superbook had 10 spring
in letters to regulators that training games on the
the exhibition games are board Tuesday. Jay Ko-
"more vulnerable to manip- rnegay, vice president
ulation" because teams are of race and sports book
focused on getting players operations, said of the 20
ready for the season, not In this Monday, May 14, 2018, file photo, people make bets in the sports book at the South Point teams, only two had more
on winning. MLB said its hotel and casino in Las Vegas. than $200 wagered and
concerns have grown be- Associated Press none had more than $300
cause of the spread of le- in total action. Some teams
gal sports gambling after a "Spring Training games pro- ing sportsbooks across sey to a ban in most of the didn't have a single bet by
ruling by the U.S. Supreme vide greater opportunity the state have controls in country. Casinos in seven early afternoon, when most
Court last year opened the for the misuse of inside in- place to minimize concerns other states now accept games begin.
possibility of new American formation," he wrote in his about players potentially wagers on sports, and the No team had more than
markets. request. "The outcome of fixing bets and haven't had list is expected to grow with two tickets written for
The games have historically games sometimes depends any problems with spring at least 22 states consider- straight bets. In parlays, no
attracted little to no betting heavily on non-public man- training. ing bills this year. team had more than 10
action in Nevada, where agerial decisions that are Board chairwoman San- Pennsylvania received a tickets.
casinos in Las Vegas and made in advance and dra Morgan said Nevada's similar request from Ma- The limits for bets on spring
elsewhere have taken bets are independent of Club sportsbooks have served jor League Baseball and training games at the West-
on spring training games or player performance, as the "alarm bell" when quickly called a timeout. gate are $1,000 on the
for decades. such as how many innings something was amiss with "We acknowledge the side and $500 on the total.
MLB's deputy general a pitcher will throw or in sporting events and related concerns they raised con- The sportsbook does not
counsel Bryan Seeley ar- which inning Minor League wagers. cerning sports wagering on take wagers on split-squad
gued the risk is "particularly players will replace Major Nevada's effective mo- spring training games and games. Kornegay said the
acute" during spring train- League players." nopoly on sports betting we are examining these betting action in the games
ing because many players The Nevada Gaming ended last spring with the concerns," said Doug Har- is traditionally so low that it
are not on the roster and Control Board responded Supreme Court backing a bach, a spokesman for would be very easy to de-
don't make much money. the following day, say- challenge from New Jer- the Pennsylvania Gaming tect unusual patterns.q

Cowboys' Gregory suspended indefinitely in 4th ban from NFL

By SCHUYLER DIXON the league's substance- to participate in the Cow- didn't have a sack as a
AP Pro Football Writer abuse policy are at least a boys' offseason program. rookie while missing four
Dallas Cowboys defen- year, it wasn't immediately He can only go to the games with an ankle injury.
sive end Randy Gregory clear how long the 26-year- team's practice facility to The first suspension, a
was suspended indefinitely old Gregory's latest ban meet with the person in four-game ban, was an-
Tuesday for violating the would be. charge of his treatment. nounced in February 2016,
NFL's substance-abuse His previous suspension was Gregory slid to the Cow- and he was away from the
policy, the fourth time the a yearlong ban, and Greg- boys late in the second team during training camp
troubled player has been ory waited several months round of the 2015 draft af- while in rehab. A 10-game
banned by the league. beyond that to submit his ter testing positive for mari- suspension came seven
The suspension comes case to Goodell in hopes juana at the NFL combine. months later. Gregory re-
about seven months after This a 2016 photo shows Ran- of improving his chances. The former Nebraska stand- mained with the team while
Gregory was reinstated dy Gregory of the Dallas Cow- Several teammates wrote out was considered one of missing those 14 games be-
by Commissioner Roger boys NFL football team. letters supporting Gregory's the best pass rushers in his fore playing in the final two
Goodell following a lengthy Associated Press bid. draft, and there was prom- games of the 2016 season.
process aimed at reviving The Cowboys declined to ise early with a strong rook- Gregory's yearlong suspen-
his career. Gregory missed games. He was reinstated comment on Gregory's lat- ie training camp. sion was announced dur-
30 of the 32 games over just before the start of train- est suspension, and one of After vowing to owner ing Dallas' two-week break
two seasons as a result of ing camp last year and his representatives didn't and general manager between the end of the
his first three suspensions. was active for the season immediately respond to a Jerry Jones that he could 2016 regular season and
Gregory had his best year opener. request for comment. control his issues with mari- a divisional playoff loss to
in 2018, posting career While suspensions in the As with the yearlong ban, juana, Gregory only made Green Bay. He missed all of
highs with six sacks and 14 most advanced stage of Gregory won't be allowed it through one season. He 2017.q