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With Sports Gambling Now Legal, What Are The Ethical Concerns?

By: Richard Bomberger

The ban on sports gambling was recently overturned. In Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association , the Supreme Court declared the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 unconstitutional under commandeering principles. [1] This ruling caused an earthquake through the sports community and leagues as a possible source of new revenue. [2] While this market has recently been mostly speculation, Penn National Gaming’s acquisition of 40% of Barstool Sports has officially started the race on businesses trying to cash in on sports betting. [3] The market saw this move with fervency by shooting Penn National Gaming’s stock by 33% in the two weeks after the acquisition announcement. [4] Institutional investors have also seen this move as a big deal. [5] It has not only been Barstool Sports that has been alone in a sports reporting conglomerate being venturing into the sports betting market, but SB Nation and Bleacher Report have moved into the market to various degrees. For example, Bleacher Report has regular reporting on betting lines and advice. [6] Additionally, the XFL tried to capitalize on this growing market by putting betting lines and advice on their website about their games. [7]

This explosion in sports betting also raises legal issues in the business legal community. First and foremost, the decision has created collegiate athletes as an easy target in the new industry. [8] This could be done in multiple avenues: first, by an overt bribe to shave points or throw a game; second, through peer pressure; or third, the athlete being indebted themselves and having to shave points to cover their own debts. [9] Secondly, it can cause a relatively young demographic to become the new age sports media developing personal issues with sports gambling. For example, the target demographic of Barstool Sports is in the 18-35 age demographic. [10] Additionally, with 27% of Generation Z engaging in their platform, it creates a strong likelihood that Barstool sports is also capturing a portion of high school students as well. [11] Bleacher Report and SB Nation also have similar demographics. With the young demographic that the companies target, it is very important that the business law community in this area create strong internal governance and self-regulation. For instance, Barstool Bets is part of the Barstool family and focuses particularly on sports gambling. [12] As of today, Barstool Bets blog posts do not have a disclaimer about Penn National Gaming owning a stake in the Barstool company. [13] This could create legal issues down the line if it is found that large sport media companies are trying to funnel a particularly young demographic into sports gambling. Another issue with sports media companies that have a large audience is that it could create an issue of employees influencing the line to better their profits or to try to short the market.

There are some simple steps that a sports media company can take to alleviate some of these future concerns. One example would be to list disclaimers. For example, one way to do this would be to disclaim any personal conflicts that the writer of the article related to gambling has. Another way the use of a disclaimer could be used is for the company publishing the gambling advice would be to post the company’s financial conflicts when giving gambling advice. Another way a business lawyer can help their company is by posting information about gambling addiction help. For example, SB Nation Bleeding Green Nation’s pick against the spread series, part of the SB Nation family, gives what its season record is for picks and the community voters’ record as well. [14] This allows a perspective gambler to assess the quality of information they are receiving. Additionally, SB Nation as a whole has taken steps to talk about their responsibility to provide adequate gambling information and protection for their viewers. [15] For the leagues that promote betting as a company policy like the XFL, there should be restrictions on who inside an organization can place bets and have severe penalties for violators. While an inside single bet for one of the larger leagues may not disrupt the overall credibility and cash flow, it is a different calculus for smaller leagues or new leagues. Thus, their credibility needs to be perfect. Finally, to protect collegiate athletes, a school should take steps to hire a lawyer and/or counselor.As this area develops over the course of the next couple of years, it will be interesting to see what measures companies start to take to ensure that they are promoting sports betting in an ethical manner. The sooner that attorneys for these companies come up with procedures that make the combination of sports betting with the actual sports leagues or sports media outlets done in an ethical manner, the less backlash they will eventually have from a sports betting scandal.

[1] See generally Murphy v. NCAA , 138 US S. Ct. 1461 (2018).

[2] See Marc Edelman, Explaining The Supreme Court’s Recent Sports Betting Decision ,Forbes(May 16, 2018), https://www.forbes.com/sites/marcedelman/2018/05/16/explaining-the-supreme-courts-recent-sports-betting-decision/#2a3fe9d8537c (discussing the future of sports betting).

[3] See Katherine Sayre & Benjamin Mullin, Race Is On To Case In On Sports Betting , The Wall Street Journal(Jan. 29, 2020), https://www.wsj.com/articles/penn-national-gaming-to-buy-minority-stake-in-barstool-sports-11580274060.

[4] Yahoo Finance, https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/PENN/ (last visited Mar. 1, 2020) (using the price chart to show the price growth).

[5] See Jesse Pound, Penn National’s investment in Barstool Sports is “going to be worth a ton,” Ron Baron says, CNBC(Feb. 4, 2020), https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/04/ron-baron-touts-penn-national-investment-in-barstool-sports.html (stating “[n]ot only are they going to make a lot of money on this investment for this $150 million and buy the rest of it out from the founder, but also it’s going to increase traffic in their casinos” .

[6] See Bleacher Report, https://bleacherreport.com/sports-odds (last visited Mar. 1, 2020).

[7] See XFL, https://www.xfl.com/en-US/xfl-betting (last visited Mar. 1, 2020).

[8] See Steve Berkowitz & Erik Brady, Legalized sports betting will wreak havoc on college athletics. Or not. , USA Today(May 31, 2018), https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/2018/05/31/sports-betting-college-athletics-world-concerned-supreme-court-ruling/645367002/ (discussing the vulnerabilities of college atheletes).

[9] See id (discussing the inevitability of a collegiate scandal due to gambling) .

[10] John Dick, Barstool Sports is Legit , Civic Science(Aug. 14, 2019), https://civicscience.com/barstool-sports-is-legit/ (stating “[w]here Barstool really earns its advertiser attention, however, is its age cohort. A whopping 67% of daily Barstool users are under the age of 30”.

[11] See id.

[12] BARSTOOLBETS, https://www.barstoolbets.com/shows/104/picks-central (last visited Mar. 1, 2020) (seeing a lack of disclaimers).

[13] See id.

[14] See Brandon Lee Gowton, NFL Picks Against the Spread: Week 15 Games , Bleeding Green Nation (Dec. 15, 2019, 3:18 AM), https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2019/12/15/21022627/nfl-picks-against-spread-week-15-games-2019-gambling-betting-spreads-line-odds-football-eagles-teams (last visited Mar. 1, 2020).

[15] NCPG, https://www.ncpgambling.org/national-conference/sports-summit-2019/ (last visited Mar. 1, 2020) (speaking at a conference about the companies duty to protect readers from bad gambling habits).

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Betting on the Edge: the Social and Ethical Dilemmas of Sports Betting

This essay about the social and ethical issues associated with sports betting discusses the complex implications of its growth in society. It highlights concerns over problem gambling, addiction, and the financial hardships that can ensue, emphasizing the risk of exacerbating social inequalities. The essay also addresses the ethical dilemma of sports competition integrity, noting how betting can lead to match-fixing and a loss of public trust in sports. Furthermore, it critiques the exploitation of vulnerable individuals by the betting industry and the broader issue of gambling’s normalization in society. By exploring these topics, the essay calls for a balanced approach to regulation, responsible gambling practices, and support for those affected by gambling addiction, aiming to mitigate the negative impacts of sports betting while maintaining the positive aspects of sports engagement. More free essay examples are accessible at PapersOwl about Sports Betting.

How it works

In recent epochs, the realm of sports wagering has undergone profound metamorphoses, its augmentation and heightened accessibility sparking a labyrinthine discourse concerning the societal and ethical quandaries it unveils. As sports betting ingrains itself further into cultural and societal norms, it engenders apprehensions regarding compulsive gambling, dependency, fiscal adversity, and the potential exacerbation of societal disparities. Furthermore, the integrity of sporting contests and the exploitation of susceptible demographics arise as poignant ethical quandaries, alongside the overarching apprehension of gambling’s normalization within societal fabrics.

At the epicenter of the discourse lies the conundrum of compulsive gambling and dependency. Sports wagering, with its tantalizing allure of expeditious triumphs and exhilarating denouements, can ensnare individuals into a vortex of excessive gambling. This dependency not only imperils the mental and physical well-being of the gambler but also harbors profound repercussions for their fiscal solvency, occupation, and inter-personal bonds. The ramifications reverberate throughout families and communities, where fiscal adversities can metastasize into broader societal issues, encompassing augmented dependence on social amenities and an elevated jeopardy of destitution.

The potential for sports wagering to exacerbate societal disparities warrants acknowledgment. It often preys on those ensnared in economically precarious circumstances, promising an escape from fiscal tribulations but instead entwining them in a quagmire of indebtedness and despondency. The accessibility of online betting platforms, with their assertive marketing stratagems and pledges of grandiose triumphs, targets youthful cohorts and those with circumscribed fiscal literacy, amplifying the jeopardy of gambling-related detriments amidst these cohorts.

Apprehensions concerning the integrity of sporting contests embody another ethical facet of sports wagering. The specter of match-fixing and manipulation undermines the equitability and capriciousness that epitomize sports. This not only distorts the competitive milieu but also corrodes public confidence in sports establishments, with enduring repercussions for aficionados’ involvement and the overarching value of sports as a conduit of diversion and communal participation.

The exploitation of vulnerable individuals by the sports wagering industry engenders profound ethical inquiries. Marketing stratagems that glamorize wagering, coupled with the omnipresence of betting platforms at one’s disposal, can engender imprudent gambling comportments. The industry’s profit-centric motivations frequently eclipse the imperative for responsible gambling practices, leaving individuals bereft of the requisite assistance or resources to manage their gambling predilections efficaciously.

Ultimately, the normalization of gambling within society, partially fueled by the assimilation of sports wagering into everyday societal and media frameworks, posits a broader ethical gauntlet. The portrayal of betting as a benign leisure pursuit downplays the hazards associated with gambling and diverts the narrative away from the propensity for dependency and detriment. This normalization process jeopardizes the entrenchment of gambling comportments within societal norms, rendering it more arduous to address the attendant societal and ethical quandaries.

In summation, the societal and ethical quandaries posited by sports wagering necessitate a nuanced and exhaustive modus operandi to regulation, education, and succor. Policies designed to safeguard the integrity of sports, forestall the exploitation of vulnerable cohorts, and grapple with the broader societal repercussions of gambling are imperative. Equally pivotal is the advocacy of responsible gambling practices and the provision of succor for those grappling with gambling addiction. By confronting these societal and ethical quandaries unreservedly, society can endeavor towards assuaging the adverse ramifications of sports wagering whilst safeguarding the gratification and involvement that sports engender for myriad individuals.

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Betting on the Edge: The Social and Ethical Dilemmas of Sports Betting. (2024, Mar 01). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/betting-on-the-edge-the-social-and-ethical-dilemmas-of-sports-betting/

"Betting on the Edge: The Social and Ethical Dilemmas of Sports Betting." PapersOwl.com , 1 Mar 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/betting-on-the-edge-the-social-and-ethical-dilemmas-of-sports-betting/

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Betting on the Edge: The Social and Ethical Dilemmas of Sports Betting . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/betting-on-the-edge-the-social-and-ethical-dilemmas-of-sports-betting/ [Accessed: 14 Nov. 2024]

"Betting on the Edge: The Social and Ethical Dilemmas of Sports Betting." PapersOwl.com, Mar 01, 2024. Accessed November 14, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/betting-on-the-edge-the-social-and-ethical-dilemmas-of-sports-betting/

"Betting on the Edge: The Social and Ethical Dilemmas of Sports Betting," PapersOwl.com , 01-Mar-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/betting-on-the-edge-the-social-and-ethical-dilemmas-of-sports-betting/. [Accessed: 14-Nov-2024]

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