Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board will evaluation the Bryce Harper FanDuel video

As playing controversies emerge in American professional sports activities, the NFL continues to keep away from touchdown in any important jackpots.

Sometimes, it’s only a matter of pure luck.

The fiasco arising from a FanDuel VIP host shopping for a Cameo video from Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper is one other occasion of the NFL certainly muttering, “There but for the grace of the gambling gods go we.” Setting apart any authorized points, it’s only a horrible look. Harper mentioned the recipient’s FanDuel host, which ought to have given him an inkling that the video was being bought for somebody who had been betting — and dropping — loads of cash.

As talked about on Friday, it’s an instance of the issues sportsbooks do to preserve losers dropping. And it highlights the determined want for regulation of an business that is still in a Wild West gold rush, with the sportsbooks and people who revenue from relationships with sportsbooks preying on these whose cash is being wagered, and misplaced, whereas stuffing their coffers with as a lot money as doable.

But there could also be ample regulation already in place, on this particular occasion. Via David Purdum of ESPN, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is having a look on the challenge.

“We are aware of the situation and are reviewing it,” the board mentioned, per Purdum.

It’s unclear what, if any, provisions of the Pennsylvania legal guidelines or rules that will be implicated. One query may relate as to if and to what extent the principles concerning compulsive or drawback gamblers had been revered by the obvious effort to maintain the recipient of the video on the trough, the place his pocket might proceed to be picked.

Regardless, extra regulation is required, as to all points of legalized (and normalized) sports activities betting. Irregularities need to be one thing greater than a short-term blip of unfavorable P.R. There must be clear guidelines that prohibit sure behaviors — with actual penalties if/when these guidelines are damaged.

Until then, the NFL must preserve its fingers crossed that it stays out of the fray.