ONLY AVAILABLE IN PAID PLANS

Sunshine and a few afternoon clouds. High 87F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph..

Partly cloudy. Low 81F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph.

The growing number of athletes caught gambling on sports should concern anyone who values competition.

Sports occupy a unique place in society. Fans invest their time, money and emotions because they believe what they are watching is genuine competition. Whether it is a Little League game, a high school football matchup on Friday night or the championship game of a professional league, the foundation remains the same: the outcome is supposed to be determined by effort, talent and strategy — not by wagers.

That is why the growing number of athletes caught gambling on sports should concern anyone who values competition.

In recent years, sports betting has become more accessible than ever. Mobile apps have put sportsbooks in every pocket, advertisements flood broadcasts and gambling companies have become major sponsors of leagues and teams. For fans, placing a wager has become normalized. For athletes, however, the rules must be different.

The moment an athlete bets on the sport they play, a conflict emerges. Even if the wager is small, even if it does not involve their own team, the perception of integrity begins to erode. Fans are left wondering whether every decision, every play and every outcome is truly authentic.

The history of athletics is littered with examples of what happens when that trust is broken. The infamous 1919 Black Sox scandal remains one of the darkest chapters in American sports because players were accused of intentionally losing the World Series. More than a century later, the lesson remains relevant. The damage was not limited to a single game or season. It shook public confidence in baseball itself.

Modern gambling scandals do not have to involve throwing games to be harmful. A player who bets on sports gains access to information unavailable to the public. Injuries, locker room dynamics, coaching decisions and team morale can all influence outcomes. Even if that information is never used improperly, the possibility creates doubt.

The average fan can accept losing. They can accept bad calls from officials, disappointing performances from star players and heartbreaking defeats by their favorite team. What fans struggle to accept is the idea that the competition itself may not be honest.

Professional leagues understand this reality. That is why athletes face severe penalties for gambling violations. The punishments are not simply about enforcing rules. They are about protecting credibility. Every suspension sends a message that the integrity of the game matters more than any individual player.

The challenge moving forward will only become greater as sports betting continues to expand. Leagues, colleges and even high schools must invest in education programs that clearly explain the risks and consequences. Athletes need to understand that gambling is not merely a personal choice when they are participants in the competition itself.

Sports have always represented something larger than wins and losses. They are stories of perseverance, teamwork, discipline and achievement. Fans buy tickets, fill stadiums and gather around televisions because they believe those stories are real.

The moment athletes gamble on their own industry, they put that belief at risk.

And once the public starts questioning whether the game is honest, everyone loses. Not just the gamblers, not just the leagues, but the millions of fans whose trust is the most valuable asset sports have ever possessed.

Corey Greineisen: corey.greineisen@galvnews.com ; 409-683-5226

Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.

Will this affect your life? How? Please share with us.

Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks. We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:

Account processing issue - the email address may already exist

Must be at least 8 characters, not contain repeating characters (e.g., 111), and not contain sequential numbers (e.g., 123).

Start your morning with the top headlines each day.

Receive email alerts anytime there is breaking news or a severe weather alert.

Get the latest local and national sports headlines delivered to your inbox every morning.

Plan your fishing trips with Capt. Joe Kent's Reel Report every evening.

Receive Laura Elder's Biz Buzz direct to your inbox every Sunday.

Receive the daily weather forecast and the weekly outlook in your inbox each morning.

Receive an email notification each time resident weather expert Stan Blazyk writes a new article.

ICYMI is a weekly newsletter highlighting stories from the past week. Wether they were the most important, most read or most talked about we want to make sure you read them. ICYMI also features select historical content.

Receive the most recent obituaries every afternoon.

Get a link to the latest e-Edition delivered to your inbox each morning.

Receive updates on the latest issues of Coast Monthly.

Receive the latest Dear Abby column in your inbox each morning.

Receive special offers from The Daily News and select partners including discounts, contests and more.

Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.

Invalid password or account does not exist

Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.

An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.

Must be at least 8 characters, not contain repeating characters (e.g., 111), and not contain sequential numbers (e.g., 123).

Secure transaction. Secure transaction. Cancel anytime.

Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.