San Diego Criminal Lawyers Blog
Turn on the news and you will find all kinds of sports betting fiascos, driven by a number of high-profile scandals that have recently hit the headlines:
- ESPN reports that the Lucchese crime family was the mastermind in a network of bookmakers nationwide who facilitated roughly $2 million in illegal betting over time. The family is facing charges of money conspiracy, money laundering, and related gambling offenses involving at least two college athletes and scores of others.
- Rigged poker games and illegal sports betting have been uncovered involving a number of NBA teams, including the LA Lakers, Miami Heat, and Portland Trail Blazers.
- MLB is dealing with an enormous scandal involving two pitchers who threw prearranged or bad pitches in order to earn thousands of dollars for bettors. Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz face 65 years in prison, and several others have received lifetime bans from baseball.
- A 41-game suspension was the punishment for the NHL’s Shane Pinto as a result of sports betting by proxy betters, even though none of those bets involved hockey.
Federal Law
The FBI Corruption in Sport and Gaming (CCSG) task force works to combat illegal sports and gaming, which includes:
- Illegal entities and activities involving sports and gaming;
- Game manipulation;
- Doping charges and athletes;
- Bribery from individuals and/or institutions;
- Threats and/or extortion of officials, athletes, or sports staff.
Illegal Sportsbooks
The FBI looks into illegal sportsbooks, which frequently operate illegally with no betting limits or reporting requirements. The concern is that, in addition to risks to bettors, organized crime frequently uses the profits made from such illegal gambling sites for their other illegal operations, including the trafficking of weapons, drugs, and humans. When unsuspecting individuals get involved with illegal sportsbooks, it can lead to threats and extortion as a means of debt collection.
Game Manipulation
Athletes, officials, and staff may be contacted by criminal entities demanding game manipulations that impact the outcome of particular plays or games, financially benefiting bettors.
Sports Betting in California
There is no legal sports betting in California, and experts predict it will be a few years before it gets on the ballot again. In fact, a constitutional amendment will be necessary in order to allow a legislative change unless voters go to the polls to make a change, and any gaming expansion down the road will likely require a tribal coalition as well. As far as sportsbooks are concerned, only about 20% of voters want it, so it could be a lengthy wait.
Penalties
Illegal sports betting can lead to fines, misdemeanor charges, and jail time, with repeat offenders looking at felony charges, three years in prison, and fines of up to $10,000. Illegal operators could be charged with a felony and face asset forfeiture. Continue reading