Posted on 03/28/2023 3:08:09 PM PDT by nickcarraway
This shows the dark side of sports gambling.
The world of sports gambling continues to get larger. And the extreme effects and impacts of that when it comes to interactions with professional athletes are becoming more pronounced as well.
Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal is currently being investigated by police in Orlando, Florida after an altercation with a fan supposedly over a lost bet. According to David Purdum of ESPN, a man who has not been identified said to Beal that he forced him to lose $1,300. Then, he called him a not-so-nice name.
What came next, per Purdum, is under review and could result in legal action being taken against Beal.
Beal, according to the report, turned around and walked toward a friend of the man who made the comment and swatted his right hand toward him, knocking the man’s hat off and contacting the left side of his head.
Police reviewed video footage of the altercation and heard Beal say this is his job and he takes it seriously, and the man is heard apologizing, implying he did not intend to offend him, according to the report.
The complaint states that “probable cause exists to charge Beal with simple battery” and that charges will be filed with the state attorney’s office. No charges had been filed as of Tuesday morning.
Gambling, as the ESPN article closes in saying, has become big business across America (although ironically not in Florida just yet due to it not being legal there at this time). And between that and the social media age, fans and bettors feel more entitled/able to approach these players than ever before.
But as Beal pointed out, this is his profession. The result of a bet that is placed on his work is really none of Beal’s concern, nor should it be. While the man, depending on how he placed the bet, is within his ability to place such a wager, whether or not it is successful is not on Beal. That’s why it is called “gambling”. You’re playing with chance.
But for sports betting, there are humans involved trying their best to compete for themselves and their organizations. As those lines become more blurred, more incidents such as this one are bound to occur.
It’s only going to get worse. I won’t be surprised in the near future we will see players killed for this.
Beal just signed the biggest contract In forever. IOW, he has deep pockets.
Good player at Florida.
i wonder how many sporting events were thrown intentionally for gambling (secret payment bribe) without people ever figuring it out.
Individual players, refs, whatever
Bill Bradley and the prohibitionists see it the same way.
I see blaming the gambling as being no different than blaming the gun.
In that other thread, the disgraced disbarred attorney is still obv blaming gambling and not accepting personal responsibility. I can’t believe that absent gambling, somehow this guy doesn’t self implode another way. He is of the know a little think they know a lot class that funds a lot of gambling. That same mindset gets him buried some other way without gambling.
I’m not suggesting to ban gambling, I just think as more and more get sucked into sports betting, and lose their shirts, they are going to take it out on someone.
pent up anger from an elite player stuck on the lousy Bullets (or Wizards... which name is worse?)
Knocked a guys hat off and gets arrested? Come on.
LOL. I don't know anything about this, because I don't really care but "forced him to lose", is kind of silly. Did this "Beal" person, whoever it is, hold this moron down and force him to place a bet? Really? Why am I so skeptical?
Charging Beal?
The man should be charged first for attempting to influence games.
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