Turn on any game and you'll see a betting ad before the first pitch. Sportsbooks love athletes, and athletes love sponsorship money. But baseball has had a rough year with gambling. Two Cleveland Guardians pitchers, Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, face federal charges in Brooklyn that they rigged pitches for bettors. Both have pleaded not guilty, and jury selection was set for November 2. They're presumed innocent, and this post isn't about their case.
It's about the deal side. Can a Major League player sign with a sportsbook at all? Yes, under rules the league and the players' union wrote into their contract. The current Basic Agreement runs through December 1, 2026, and its Sports Betting Policy is Attachment 60. Here's what it says, and why agents should keep a copy in the deal file.
Takeaway #1: Yes to the sportsbook, no to baseball bets
FROM THE POLICY
"Major League Players may engage in promotional or endorsement activities ... on behalf of, may promote or endorse, and may license use of his Attributes in or in connection with a third party engaged in ... legal betting ... provided that ... (ii) the Player does not authorize or allow the use of his name, uniform number, image, likeness, or any other Attributes in order to advertise, promote, or encourage betting on (for or against) any Baseball Game(s) or Baseball Event(s)"
What it means for you. A player can be the face of a legal sportsbook, a casino or a fantasy site. The policy calls these "Sports Gaming Companies." What he can't do is lend his name or face to bets on baseball. And "baseball" is drawn broadly. It includes betting on "a Club's season or partial season win/loss records; end of season awards voting; or any other in-game or in-season 'prop bets.'"
So a shortstop can star in a sportsbook's football promo, but not in one pushing baseball MVP odds. The devil is in the details, and the details are in the creative brief.
The same section bans "consulting or advising on sports betting issues" for a Sports Gaming Company. The policy leaves room for non-betting work, too: "broadcasting or entertainment content services for Sports Gaming Companies that do not support or relate to sports betting." Breaking these rules can bring "fines, suspensions, termination of employment and/or permanent ineligibility."
Your move. Agents, put the policy into the endorsement contract. Require the brand to keep all baseball betting content away from your client, and give the player approval over every ad.
Takeaway #2: Endorse, yes. Own a piece, mostly no
FROM THE POLICY
"a Major League Player may own shares in a Sports Gaming Company, provided that he does not own, directly or indirectly, more than 1% of any class of securities (or class of other ownership interests) in such company and does not serve as an officer, director, employee or consultant of the company."
What it means for you. Lots of celebrity deals come with equity. With sportsbooks, MLB players mostly can't take it. The general rule bars players from holding any "direct or indirect ownership or economic interest" in a Sports Gaming Company, or owing it money. The exception is a small stake: 1% or less of any class, with no job or board seat. And anyone with an ownership interest must file a written disclosure with the Commissioner's Office "by no later than March 1 of each year."
There's a carve-out. The policy says players aren't prohibited from owning part of "a legal Gaming Company that is not involved in betting on Baseball." So a casino that doesn't take baseball bets is a different conversation. Even then, any compensation or position from a Sports Gaming Company has to be described to the Commissioner's Office on request (§I.I).
Your move. Before your client takes equity, warrants or a revenue share from any gaming company, check whether it takes baseball bets. If it does, equity is limited to a small stake of 1% or less with no role, and the endorsement must stay within §I.G.
Sample wording (our illustration): "Brand will not use Player's name, number or likeness with any baseball-related wagering, odds or prop content."
And always remember, don't sign it till you read it, my friends.
General information, not legal advice. Reading this doesn't create an attorney-client relationship. Players should talk to the MLBPA and their own lawyers before signing any gaming deal.
Sources
- 2022–2026 Basic Agreement, Attachment 60, Sports Betting Policy for Major League Players (MLBPA-hosted PDF)
- Superseding indictment, United States v. Clase et al., No. 1:25-cr-00346-KAM (E.D.N.Y.), Dkt. 80, filed Feb 12, 2026
- InGame, 'Clase-Ortiz Trial Pushed Back From May 4 To November 2', Mar 6, 2026
- InGame, 'Judge Denies Clase, Ortiz Motions To Dismiss Wire Fraud Conspiracy Count', Sept 9, 2026
