The Current How prop betting is undermining sports
Nov 18, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Dave Zirin, sports editor at The Nation and host of the Edge of Sports podcast, unpacks the alarming rise of prop betting and its implications for sports integrity. He delves into the Clase/Ortiz pitch-fixing scandal, shedding light on the risks involved. Zirin highlights how prop bets undermine trust in outcomes, the leagues' complicity in normalizing gambling, and the alarming shift in sports culture since 2014. He warns of the potential destruction of the authenticity of games, especially for younger fans.
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Prop Bets Target Individual Moments
- Prop bets target individual events in a game rather than the final outcome, like whether a pitcher throws a strike to a specific batter.
- That granularity makes manipulation harder to detect and raises new integrity risks for sports.
Small Bets Can Create Big Risks
- Players risking small sums like $5,000 to alter play shows how available betting can corrupt behavior despite high athlete salaries.
- Even modest bets become career-risking when app access and downtime make wagering constant and tempting.
Hard To Prove Single-Play Manipulation
- Detecting manipulation on a single pitch or play is often impossible without a whistleblower.
- When fans doubt play-by-play integrity, the foundational value of competitive sports erodes.