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The explosive growth of sports betting is starting to clash with the world of professional sports, and not always in a good way. As the sports industry pulls in billions and becomes a regular part of how people watch games, more and more athletes are getting caught up in gambling-related trouble.
Take Major League Baseball, for example. Recently, the league placed Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase and pitcher Luis Ortiz on paid leave. Ortiz is reportedly being looked at as part of a gambling investigation tied to in-game prop bets. Over in the NBA, things are heating up too as former star Gilbert Arenas was arrested on suspicion of running illegal poker games. While Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley is also in the spotlight in relation to prop bets during the 2023-24 season.

Two years ago today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling in the NJ sports betting case (Gov. Murphy, et al. v. NCAA, NFL, NHL, NBA & MLB). Full ruling here – https://t.co/BrKMtdWxDo. Most important sentence from ruling below: pic.twitter.com/MSwr0hEIPx
— Ryan M. Rodenberg (@SportsLawProf) May 14, 2020

These are part of a larger trend that’s been growing ever since the US Supreme Court cleared the way for states to legalize sports betting back in 2018. What used to be a touchy subject in league offices is now fully woven into the sports world. And with gambling becoming easier to access and less taboo, it raises a big question whether betting culture is starting to take over pro athletes.
Why might some athletes be drawn to sports gambling and should they be able to gamble?
“Interesting… but the issue of professional athletes becoming involved in illegal gambling is complex but not entirely new,” Professor Andy Lane, a sport psychology expert from the University of Wolverhampton, told ReadWrite. “Sports history—particularly in boxing—shows longstanding links between gambling and attempts to influence outcomes, sometimes through organized crime.”

“From a psychological standpoint, elite athletes often exhibit traits such as high sensation-seeking, risk tolerance, and competitiveness—traits that are essential for sporting success but may also make them more susceptible to gambling behaviors.” – Professor Andy Lane, University of Wolverhampton

The difference today is access. “The advent of online gambling platforms and mobile apps has removed many of the barriers that once made such behavior more difficult or more visible,” Professor Lane explained. These days, elite athletes often have money to spend, downtime between games or seasons, and a natural craving for adrenaline. With gambling apps just a tap away on their phones, the temptation is always right there in their pocket.
“The largest single-year increases for all presented service and treatment utilization data were observed between 2021-22, following the implementation of legalized mobile sports betting in January 2022,” said the state’s Office of Addiction Services and Supports, which helps people dealing with gambling-related problems and disorders.
Right now, 22% of Americans have a mobile sports betting account. That number jumps to 48% for men between the ages of 18 and 49, according to the Siena College Research Institute.
Why is sports gambling so popular and has it increased temptation?
Dr. Greg Gomez, Clinical Director at The Oasis Recovery in California, sees this reflected in his own therapeutic work: “The accessibility of gambling apps, combined with marketing, has normalized gambling somewhat. It’s especially common in the sports world.” He added, “If an athlete is off-season, or injured, they may seek out gambling as a substitute for thrill seeking.”
It’s not just how easy it is to place a bet that pulls athletes in. A lot of it has to do with their mindset. “Elite athletes often exhibit traits such as high sensation-seeking, risk tolerance, and competitiveness,” Professor Lane noted. These traits may fuel their success in sport but also “make them more susceptible to gambling behaviors.”

“There really aren’t enough safeguards. Access to mental health support and education are still somewhat limited in the professional sporting environment.” – Dr. Greg Gomez, The Oasis Recovery Clinical Director

Dr. Gomez echoed this, stating, “There is an overlap between gambling behavior and the mindset of many professional sports players. Many have a very competitive mindset. This can play into gambling, as well.”
Lester Morse, director of Rehabs UK, offered another psychological dimension: “For individuals prone to addiction, the brain’s baseline emotional state… doesn’t function normally, leaving them with a feeling of chronic dissatisfaction.” Morse warned that professional sport can become a temporary fix, but the rush fades. “The brain quickly builds a tolerance… and gambling, with its high stakes and unpredictability, can become the next outlet.”
“It’s important to clarify: not everyone who gambles has a gambling addiction,” Morse stressed. “The difference lies in self-control.” However, for those who do suffer from addiction, the consequences can be devastating. “We often say in recovery: ‘If your gambling is costing you more than money, you may have a problem.’ For an athlete, that cost is their career and reputation, but the addiction can overpower even that.”
Is there enough support out there?
Morse is also critical of current societal responses: “Our society is failing to treat addiction successfully across the board, and sports is no exception. We focus on the symptoms: the gambling, instead of the cause.”
Even with all the risks, most experts agree that professional sports organizations aren’t really doing enough to tackle the problem. Dr. Gomez was blunt: “There really aren’t enough safeguards. Access to mental health support and education are still somewhat limited in the professional sporting environment.”
Professor Lane elaborated further: “While some governing bodies have monitoring systems and education programmes in place, it’s questionable whether these are proactive or robust enough. Too often, interventions occur after reputational damage has been done.”
He suggested that a “more psychologically informed approach” is needed – one that combines mental health support, digital literacy, and meaningful education. “Confidential access to mental health professionals, workshops on financial and digital literacy, and stronger role modelling from governing bodies could all contribute to better prevention,” Professor Lane added.
The growing number of gambling scandals involving pro athletes appears to point to a deeper, more systemic issue that’s being driven by technology, culture, and psychological factors that often go unchecked. The intense competitive drive that helps athletes succeed can also make them especially vulnerable, and the systems meant to protect them just don’t seem strong enough to handle it.
In the words of Professor Lane: “This is not an entirely new issue, but the landscape has changed significantly.” And unless sports organizations evolve their approach to match this new reality, the headlines may only get worse.
Featured image: Grok
The post Emmanuel Clase, Gilbert Arenas, and the rise of sports gambling: is betting culture overtaking pro athletes? appeared first on ReadWrite.

A Brazilian Senator has proposed new legislation that could increase the minimum betting age and impose a spending cap.
Senator Humberto Costa has commented on multiple occasions that there should be stricter legislation in place to safeguard South American gamblers. His most recent release, the proposition of Bill No. 3754/25, is an aim to bring new tools to regulators in the nation.
Brazilian Senator Costa proposes betting age cap bill
In a post across social media, Senator Costa aimed at the well-being of Brazilians at risk from problem gambling. He said:
“I presented Bill No. 3754/25 to impose stricter regulation on this terrible and destructive business of BETs. Cases of tragedy in families are recurring, and we need to create measures to curb this type of problem in our society.”

Apresentei o PL nº 3754/25 para impor uma regulação mais severa a esse terrível e destrutivo negócio das BETs. Os casos de tragédia nas famílias se repetem e precisamos criar medidas para inibir esse tipo de problema na nossa sociedade. pic.twitter.com/2pLvA4bAXq
— Humberto Costa (@senadorhumberto) August 6, 2025

If Costa’s proposed legislation were to be approved in the Brazilian Senate, it would mean that several changes would come into effect. The bill would lift the minimum age of registered bettors able to hold an account from 18 to 21. A spending cap has also been proposed that would be set by the Finance Ministry and would be the equivalent to one payment of the minimum wage.
Promotions would also be limited to specific watershed timings, and Costa proposes a blanket ban on all betting promotions and marketing from 6 am until 10 pm. Public sports would also be subject to limitations on how they can be sponsored, which would immediately bring the ire of the soccer clubs in the South American nation.
Sporting clubs already embroiled in betting ban opposition
ReadWrite covered the mass opposition to bans on betting advertising in the top flight of the nation’s soccer league, Serie A. The clubs were in rebellion against the possible impact of Bill No. 2.985/2023 from the desk of Senator Carlos Portinho.
SC International released a statement covering the direct rebuttal to the proposition, stating that “serious financial losses will be quite significant for the big clubs.
“However, what is even more cruel about the Substitute Bill (Bill No. 2.985/2023) is that these new rules could be definitive for the survival of smaller clubs, which also carry out important social work and carry the emotional bond of their communities in the regions where they are based.”
Brazil is keen on imposing stricter regulations
As we reported, regulators in Brazil are making steps to combine their efforts to safeguard users. The National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) and the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR) have signed a cooperation agreement to fight illegal betting in Brazil.
“We are facing a major challenge, because overtaxation compromises the sector’s activity and drives the growth of illegal websites, which already represent the vast majority of bets operating in the country,” said ANJL president Plínio Lemos Jorge.
Illegal websites have also fallen foul of the Rio de Janeiro State Public Defender’s Office (DPRJ), as forty-three betting providers have been party to action involving misleading marketing.
So there is a genuine desire to both tighten the regulations to safeguard users, according to Senator Costa, and decrease the risk of exposure to illicit gambling sites.
There is another narrative to the combined arbitrary efforts of regulators, and that is the missing taxable income received from those betting in Brazil illegally.
It is presumed that between R$1.8 billion ($330,000) and R$2.7 billion ($490,000) was lost in just three months in 2025. That’s estimated to reach R$10.8 billion ($1.9 million) in a fiscal year, which has prompted the action from these betting watchdogs.
Featured Image: Senator Humberto Costa on X
The post Brazilian Senator tables new betting age cap legislation  appeared first on ReadWrite.

Federal lawmakers have accused a Hollywood stuntwoman-turned-attorney of breaching her parole to bet thousands of dollars on slot machines.
Vanessa Motta has been under investigation for staging vehicle crashes to cash in on insurance claims and has been under the strict stipulation that she respects the boundaries of a parole order.

BREAKING:
⁦@EDLAnews⁩ wants Vanessa Motta jailed until her March 2nd trial.
They claim she violated her bond and gambled at ⁦@BeauBiloxi⁩.
Her defense lawyer says it’s complete ‘government overreach’
Story https://t.co/Kzt4jMqQgM https://t.co/Kzt4jMqQgM
— Travers Mackel (@TraversWDSU) August 7, 2025

Attorney breaks parole to gamble thousands
The Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi, Harrison County, Mississippi, is the site where the New Orleans attorney was accused of breaching her parole.
The attorney, who is under scrutiny, is reported to have wagered $836,401.81 on slot gaming in her multiple trips to the Groundhog State, but for her most recent venture Motta should have notified her parole officer to receive special dispensation to do so.
Motta on parole for involvement in DOJ case
Motta was involved in a case that the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice described as a “thirteen-count second superseding indictment,” returned by a grand jury on April 25, 2025, in connection with a scheme to stage automobile collisions in the New Orleans area.
This included Motta being charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1343, and 1349. Mail fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341. Obstruction of justice, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1503(a) and witness tampering in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1512(b)(1)(B).
Nola reported on the alleged parole breach saying that Federal prosecutors have asked a judge to step in and revoke Motta’s $25,000 bond or modify the terms to forbid gambling.
The news outlet also stated that the “suspended attorney misled her Pretrial Services officer so she could leave the state multiple times to bet large sums that could have gone to pay restitution if she is convicted, according to court records.”
Motta will now face a judge in a decision making process as part of a bond revocation hearing, on August 13, 2025.
Featured image: Great Day Louisiana via YouTube
The post Hollywood stuntwoman-turned-attorney accused of parole breach in $836K gambling spree appeared first on ReadWrite.

Former Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley has been evicted from his penthouse apartment for failing to pay rent, according to reports from the Windy City.
Beasley is also under a federal investigation that revolves around prop and NBA bets on games he was involved with. This is a direct contradiction of NBA rules for active players, and he has, as a consequence of the rumoured betting breaches, entered into free agency unwillingly.
Beasley under scrutiny for betting breaches
The Pistons were on the doorstep of offering Beasley a new deal when the news broke that he had allegedly been involved in betting while on the active NBA roster. The three-year, $42 million offer was subsequently pulled back by the Pistons, and he has now entered free agency.
As we reported, ESPN’s Shams Charania posted on social media about the breaking news. He said at that time (June 2025), “The U.S. District Attorney’s office is investigating Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley on allegations of gambling related to NBA games and prop bets, sources told ESPN. Serious development surrounding one of the top NBA free agents.”

BREAKING: The U.S. District Attorney’s office is investigating Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley on allegations of gambling related to NBA games and prop bets, sources told ESPN. Serious development surrounding one of the top NBA free agents. pic.twitter.com/U0W1QONYva
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2025

Beasley hasn’t been officially charged in the investigation; however, the situation has caused NBA teams to be hesitant to offer the shooter a deal. He was on a one-year contract with the Pistons that equated to around $6 million, and his resurgence in big games and a run of Pistons triumphs has seemingly made his comeback complete.
“Me, I feel like I’m a winning player, someone who’s worth investing in longterm. But the league wasn’t necessarily seeing that last summer. So I knew I had to take a one-year deal and show everyone,” said Beasley to the media at the time of signing.
Beasley’s legal troubles mount
Beasley has a list of debtors, including a $2m gambling deficit, a legal case involving his previous agency representation, and now the landlord of his penthouse in Detroit.
As we previously reported, the shooter terminated his contract with Hazan Sports Management Group, which was set to a four-year term, but Beasley cut this short in February 2025, just fifteen months into the deal.
Hazan’s lawyer, Daniel Marcus, said, “Unbeknownst to HSM, in late 2024/early 2025, Beasley began courting other agents to represent his interests both on and off the court in clear violation of the exclusivity provisions of the Marketing Agreement.”
Hazan is now suing him for $2.25 million, and he has been sued twice in 2025 for failure to pay $21,500 rent, which has led to his eviction. The property, The Stott, is owned in part by Dan Gilbert, who is also the majority shareholder of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Beasley is confident of his return to the parquet floor for the season ahead with a new team. He posted to Snapchat about his offseason, saying “I’ve been grinding my ass off. I’ve got this new chip on my shoulder. My back against the wall. Nobody believes in me.”
Featured image: Dennis Adair / Creative Commons 2.0
The post Malik Beasley evicted amid investigation for NBA gambling rule violations appeared first on ReadWrite.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has shown leniency in a recent letter regarding predictions or officially termed “events” markets.
The move signals an opening for the prediction/event marketplace, made famous by the likes of Polymarket and Kalshi, a growing frontier of gambling which could contribute trillions to the American economy.
CFTC letter marks easing of restrictions on prediction markets
The letter, which was published by the CFTC’s official press room, made it clear that this “no-action” was in relation to business involving Railbird Exchange LLC (Railbird) and QC Clearing LLC (QC), a derivatives clearing organization.
A key part of the CFTC’s Division of Market Oversight and the Division of Clearing and Risk letter related to this leniency applies only in “narrow circumstances.” This is an exemption given to similar markets, but it does not entirely rule out regulatory action being applied to Railbird for its actions in the future.
However, this decision could change the fate of prediction markets, which are making moves to become further ingrained into the American market. It’s akin to the business between event markets and smaller registered entities being noticed by the regulator, but not being hampered.
Railbird needs QC to ensure the settlement functions for trades are compliant and to manage any risks involved in the completion of trades. Essentially, Railbird is the shopfront and the counter where a consumer can decide to stake on an event, and QC takes the strain of making sure the transaction and the legitimacy of the transaction is compliant.
What are event markets?
Event markets, like Railbird, allow registered users to bet on stocks, weather patterns, and election results. The likes of Polymarket and Kalshi, which we have reported on in great detail, show a definite appetite for this kind of event market staking.
The road to riches wasn’t always an easy one, as initially, state regulators and registered gambling operators such as DraftKings and BetMGM were unhappy that these markets were being given an unfair advantage.

“This paves the way for us to welcome American traders again. I’ve waited a long time to say this: Polymarket is coming home.” – Shayne Coplan, Polymarket CEO

Kalshi won a pyrrhic victory over the complaining parties, and the CFTC dropped its lawsuit against the company. Prompting the Kalshi CEO, Tarek Mansour, to post the outcome on social media.
“It’s official. The D.C. Circuit has granted the CFTC’s unopposed motion to dismiss its appeal in the Kalshi lawsuit over whether congressional control contracts involve “gaming.” The appeal is dismissed.”
Brian Quintenz, the former commissioner of the CFTC, has been serving as a senior member of the Kalshi board and is now facing a hearing to appoint him as the possible head of the CFTC.
He has stated that he will step down from his position at Kalshi if appointed. Decisions like the CFTC dropping the case and his looming appointment suggest a softer approach is on the horizon for events staking markets.
Prediction markets are staking their claims in the US market
As we reported, Polymarket acquired a smaller company, QCEX, which operates as a Commodity Futures Trading Commission-licensed derivatives exchange. The deal was set in stone for $112 million.
Shayne Coplan, founder and CEO of Polymarket, said, “This paves the way for us to welcome American traders again. I’ve waited a long time to say this: Polymarket is coming home.”
Kalshi and Flutter Entertainment’s FanDuel have also flirted with the idea of teaming up to provide prediction markets, and rumors abound that DraftKings is looking to enter the fray.
CEO of DraftKings, Jason Robins, recently spoke during a 2025 Q2 earnings call about possibly entering the predictions market.
“I do think being an early mover in a space like this can be important,” Robins said. “I also think that being a literal first mover may not be as important. There are downsides to that as well. We’re evaluating. Obviously, we have a lot of stakeholders, state regulators, relationships with tribes, and others that we make sure that we consider as we think about what our different options are. We’re keeping a close eye on it and figuring out what we want to do.”
Featured Image: Railbird official
The post CFTC grants Railbird and QC clearing narrow no-action relief for event contracts appeared first on ReadWrite.

Welcome to the very first edition of Prediction Pulse, your weekly dive into what people are betting on, and the big numbers driving those wagers.
Why start this now, you ask? Well, unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably noticed that prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket are quietly reshaping the way we track public opinion. In fact, they’ve been stealing the spotlight from traditional polls. Case in point, during the 2024 US presidential election, Polymarket left most pundits and papers in the dust with forecasts that proved more accurate than the pros.
Since then, things have snowballed. Elon Musk’s xAI has teamed up with Kalshi. Donald Trump tapped Kalshi board member Brian Quintenz to head the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. And New York’s mayoral race? It’s funneled millions into the prediction markets.
This week has been no different. From high-stakes bets on whether a recession is looming, to the utterly bizarre market on dildos being thrown at WNBA games, we’ve got the highlights.
What’s on this week’s prediction markets
Kalshi
Trump has once again sent prediction markets into overdrive, this time with a few casual comments about who might replace Jerome Powell as the next Federal Reserve chair.
On the rumor mill are Kevin Hassett from the National Economic Council, Kevin Warsh, a former Fed Governor, Christopher Waller, a current Fed Governor, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Chatting on CNBC’s Squawk Box, Trump played favorites, sort of.
“He’s very good,” Trump said of Warsh, before adding the kind of disclaimer only Trump can deliver. “Sometimes they’re all very good, until you put them in there, and then they don’t do so good. But … I think he’s a very good guy. I’d say Kevin and Kevin, both Kevins are very good.”
Kalshi traders back Waller for Fed Chair as odds swing sharply after Trump comments. Credit: Kalshi
The market reaction was fairly swift. Despite being completely snubbed in Trump’s shout-outs, Waller shot to the top with a 47% chance of snagging the role. Hassett slipped to 34% and Warsh, even with Trump’s praise, limped in at 14%. The moral of the story is that in prediction markets, sometimes silence speaks louder than compliments.
On the other end of the spectrum, bettors are still debating whether the country is heading for a recession this year. This market has been dragging on for months, however, but it remains a telling snapshot of the national mood. Kalshi now puts the odds at 12%, down sharply from a peak of 64.8% during the scare in May. Polymarket paints a similar picture, hovering at about 14% after hitting 66% at the same peak.
Polymarket
On Polymarket, there is an entirely different kind of bet attracting attention. Despite objections from players and coaches, multiple green sex toys have been tossed onto the court during live WNBA games in the past week. The crypto-based prediction market is letting people wager on whether more of these disruptions will happen, after one anonymous bettor walked away with more than $6,000 from the latest illegal stunt.
Polymarket bettors nearly unanimous on another WNBA dildo toss by week’s end. Credit: Polymarket
Before the Las Vegas Aces and Golden State Valkyries tip off, Polymarket has already seen thousands of dollars wagered on whether a specific type of sex toy will make its way onto the floor. By midday Friday, the odds were essentially at one hundred percent that a dildo would be thrown, across several similar markets. There is even a market on the color of the object in question. Fewer than one percent of bettors think it will be green or yellow.
It may turn out to be just a flash in the pan, but the combined trading volume on Polymarket’s current dildo markets has topped half a million dollars. It is a perfect example of how prediction platforms can turn viral moments into financial opportunities, even when those moments involve actions forbidden by league officials. Kalshi has stayed far away from this mess, while some Polymarket bettors appear willing to push the boundaries to secure a win.

BREAKING: The suspect accused of throwing a green dildo at last night’s Phoenix Mercury game just appeared in court.
Kaden Lopez, 18, is accused of hitting someone with the sex toy. Lopez faces at least two charges, including assault and disorderly conduct.
Free the homie pic.twitter.com/YOqvrKbNVM
— Polymarket Sports (@PolymarketSport) August 7, 2025

At least arrests are now being made for throwing dildos. The hope is that will deter both the behavior and the betting on it, although the Polymarket Sports account on X is still arguing the arrested fan should not be in jail.
Even with all the cash flying around, Polymarket isn’t making much from these bets since they skip charging fees. It’s a classic move. Use viral buzz to lure in more players. Fun for them, sure. For us? Hard pass. Keep the toys in the toy box.
Featured image: Canva
The post Prediction Pulse: Kalshi, Polymarket bet on Hassett for Fed chair, plus recession and dildos appeared first on ReadWrite.