"Baseball and bets go hand-in-hand in the Dominican Republic, where professional athletes, musicians and even legislators go public with their wagers.But for every legal bet in the Caribbean country, officials say there are countless more illegal ones.It's a widespread, multimillion-dollar industry that has come under scrutiny following U.S. federal indictments of Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz."
"According to data from the Dominican Association of Sports Betting Shops, there are about 3,500 registered businesses, and countless more illegal ones.Quico Tabar, head of the country's national lottery who was tasked by the president to regulate gambling, recently stated in a public letter that officials have been working for years to regulate betting shops but that "circumstances beyond our control" have not allowed that to happen."
Baseball and widespread sports betting are deeply intertwined in the Dominican Republic, with legal shops numbering around 3,500 and countless unregulated operations. A multimillion-dollar betting industry has drawn scrutiny after U.S. federal indictments accused two Cleveland Guardians pitchers of accepting bribes from Dominican bettors to throw specific pitches and help win at least $460,000; both have pleaded not guilty. The accusations have caused national embarrassment and concern about player integrity. Officials have attempted regulation for years but cited "circumstances beyond our control" for limited progress. Some gamblers report choosing large, convenient establishments for big wagers regardless of legal status.
Read at Fast Company
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