ESPN’s Davis Faces Backlash For Betting Comments
The Broadcaster Called Sports Betting "Risk-Free Investment"
The difficulties media companies face in incorporating in-house sportsbook operators are numerous. And ESPN had to deal with that issue head-on Sunday.
Longtime ESPN studio host and play-by-play broadcaster Rece Davis was discussing NCAA Tournament bets with gambling analyst Erin Dolan. Davis then said Dolan’s ‘under’ pick of the Northwestern team total in the Wildcats’ Second Round game against UConn was “a risk-free investment.”
This statement ignited major Rece Davis backlash over him stating that there is no risk of loss when betting on sports.
Gambling, in general — and specifically in sports — is never risk-free. Sportsbooks may offer what they deem to be “risk-free bets. But these offers typically provide sportsbook credit in lieu of actual money in the event of a loss, which is much different than being risk-free.
Even though Davis seemed to be joking in the clip (laughing as he says it), to imply that March Madness bets are an “investment” that does not involve risk, is a dangerous statement to make. ESPN Bet and other operators are also legally obligated to inform users of the risks of betting.
Gambling advertising is strictly regulated and there are many rules as to how sportsbook operators — and their partners — can promote their bet offerings.
ESPN may just license its name and image to Penn Entertainment to operate ESPN Bet. But ESPN is closely tied to the new endeavor and has to do a much better job at informing its personalities about what they can and cannot say on air or in print about betting.
ESPN Needs To Be Careful
While it doesn’t appear that ESPN or Davis will face scrutiny from regulators following this verbal mishap, the Rece Davis backlash should teach the network to be more careful.
A lot of things are said absentmindedly on ESPN every day. The network has many programming hours to fill and its content can be conversational in nature. But when you put sports betting into the mix, you need to be more tactful.
Davis doesn’t have much on-air experience with sports betting. But with ESPN’s partnership with Penn, and the widespread launch of ESPN Bet, the network is trying to push more betting-related content out on its channels.
That’s how Davis wound up in a discussion about online sports gambling with Dolan, one of ESPN’s more prominent betting personalities. Perhaps not knowing what else to say, Davis mentioned the “risk-free investment” line which he likely viewed as a throwaway joke. However, Dolan sensed it was out-of-place as did the rest of the internet.
Again, Davis likely did not mean that the Northwestern team total under pick was a guaranteed hit. However, some less-experienced bettors watching the segment could be thrown of and believe the pick was a “lock” they needed to take.
That scenario is why regulators have been so stringent on the language of gambling ads and promos.
The Timing Is Bad
This kind of negative attention regarding ESPN’s handling of betting issues comes at an unfortunate time. First, there is the massive Shohei Ohtani story where his former interpreter allegedly stole $4.5 million from him to cover gambling debts owed to an illegal bookmaker in Southern California.
The interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara was fired amid a federal government investigation into the bookmaker. The MLB is beginning to investigate the matter as well. Ohtani addressed the media on Monday and denied any involvement but questions remain as to what, if anything, he knew.
Second, there is a recent NBA betting scandal involving Jontay Porter of the Toronto Raptors. Multiple sportsbooks noted unusually high betting activity on Porter’s — a lightly used reserve center who is the younger brother of the Denver Nuggets’ Michael Porter Jr. — betting props.
On two occasions, there were significant bets on Porter’s statistical prop unders. The Missouri product then left games with an injury or illness after only playing a few minutes. He has been suspended pending the NBA‘s investigation.
These situations are much more serious than the Rece Davis backlash over his comments. But these all highlight the pitfalls of the betting’s proliferation within sports leagues and networks.
Legalization has done great things. It has allowed bettors to do what they did before through more dangerous and under-the-table means in a safer way and has allowed governments to profit.
But, on the other hand, it has opened up avenues for the integrity of games to be compromised. Inexperienced and non-savvy bettors can also be taken advantage of.
It’s just not a good look all around.
For Gambling news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
