State of the Union: McCullers staves off threat from foreign bettor; Pacers shock OKC in Game 1, more
McCullers brushes off threats for first win since 2022
Since leading the Houston Astros to a historic 18-inning win in the 2022 MLB postseason, Lance McCullers Jr has dealt with the most trying period of his professional career.
Battling through a muscle strain and a bone spur in his pitching arm, McCullers went 915 days between starts before his return to the mound this May.
In his second start back, McCullers struggled with his command, lasting only one-third of an inning in a 13-9 loss to the Reds. The right-hander gave up seven runs in the inning, one where the Reds sent 15 batters to the plate.
Later that month, McCullers revealed that he had received menacing threats on social media, including ones targeting his children. Amid threats from an intoxicated bettor to stab McCullers’ kids, the All-Star pitcher hired 24-hour security for protection of his family. While no charges have been filed, according to the Houston Police Department, the individual responsible for the threats apologised to McCullers’ family.
The bettor is located overseas, ESPN reported on Monday. The HPD did not reveal the actual location of the individual.
“I understand people are very passionate and people love the Astros and love sports, but threatening to find my kids and murder them is a little bit tough to deal with,” McCullers told reporters in response to the 10 May start.
On Tuesday, McCullers outduelled Pirates phenom Paul Skenes in a 3-0 victory. McCullers scattered two hits over six innings for his first win since 21 September 2022. Since dealing with the threats, McCullers has only allowed five earned runs in four starts for a sparkling ERA of 2.21.
Tennis, track stars also cast aside threats
McCullers is not the only MLB player who has dealt with perilous social media threats over the last month. Following a May loss to the Mets, Red Sox reliever Liam Hendriks wrote on Instagram that he dealt with threatening comments on the internet.
A survivor of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Hendriks noted that he received comments from users wishing that he died of cancer. Hendriks has a 6.59 ERA this season over 13.2 innings pitched.
Also this week, FanDuel banned a bettor who taunted US runner Gabby Thomas at an event in Philadelphia. The customer claimed that the taunting of Thomas helped him win a multi-leg parlay on the site.
“FanDuel condemns in the strongest terms abusive behaviour directed toward athletes. Threatening or harassing athletes is unacceptable and has no place in sports,” the company said in a statement.
Thomas, a three-time gold medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, took part in last Sunday’s 100-metre finals at Grand Slam Track Philadelphia. Thomas finished behind winner Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, who ran a season-best 10.73 seconds.
Also this week, Jessica Pegula complained of online harassment after a defeat in the French Open. Pegula, the world’s third-ranked tennis player, suffered a shocking loss at the hands of wildcard Lois Boisson. Ranked 361 in the world, Boisson eliminated Pegula in the fourth round.
“These (bettors) are insane and delusional,” Pegula wrote on her Instagram account. “This stuff has never really bothered me much but does any other sport deal with this to our level?”
Longshot Pacers see odds shorten after late comeback
While en route to Oklahoma City for the NBA Finals, severe weather delayed the Indiana Pacers’ trip by several hours.
The Pacers first had to divert their flight to Tulsa, before waiting a few more hours for the inclement weather to clear. Indiana, however, has overcome longer odds in reaching the finals for the first time in 25 years. But the Pacers, as is their wont, pulled off another improbable comeback on Thursday night against the Thunder.
Tyrese Haliburton drained a 21-foot jumper with 0.3 seconds left to give Indiana its first and only lead of the game. The Pacers erased a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit in the 111-110 win to take the opening game of the finals.
Rick Carlisle’s team opened the season with odds of 50/1 to win the title, odds that were more remote than 14 others league-wide. Despite finishing with the NBA’s second-best record after the All Star Game, the Pacers entered the playoffs with odds of 60/1, as top books gave Haliburton and company little chance of making it out of the East.
Indiana responded by thrashing top-seed Cleveland in five games, before sending the Knicks home in the conference finals.
Thunder remain heavy favourite
When the finals kicked off on Thursday, the Pacers faced the 68-win Thunder, a team that has produced one of the NBA’s highest winning percentages in league history. At FanDuel, the Thunder opened with odds of -700 to capture their first title in franchise history. Led by NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder are one of the most lopsided favourites in the post-PASPA era.
Meanwhile at Hard Rock Bet, customers took Indiana to win the title on only 1.38% of all tickets at the start of the playoffs. Bettors even backed the Pistons at a higher clip. Detroit, which finished with a season-low 14 wins in 2024, were eliminated by the Knicks in the first round.
The Thunder were the biggest NBA Finals favourite since 2018, according to BetMGM’s John Ewing. Per Ewing, only nine teams since 1985 have entered the finals with odds of -700 or higher. Ewing cited research from the website Sports History Odds.
According to the website, the 2001 Lakers (-2000) have been the largest favourites over the last three decades.
Following the win, the Pacers’ series odds shortened to +265 at FanDuel. The Thunder are massive 11-point favourites in Sunday’s Game 2.
NJ passes bill banning sports betting deals with universities
A New Jersey bill that aims to prohibit partnerships between sports betting operators and state public universities cleared the Senate without a hitch.
Sponsored by Senators Joe Cryan and John McKeon, the proposed legislation seeks to ban contractual agreements between sports betting companies and New Jersey institutions of higher education, including the athletic departments at those schools. At the same time, the bill will prohibit agreements between booster clubs and sportsbook operators that would otherwise allow for advertisements or promotions for gambling services.
“The proliferation of sports betting by college students is a troubling trend that can have a destructive and long-lasting impact on their lives,” said Cryan, in a statement.
New Jersey already has a ban on placing wagers on collegiate sports events that are held within state lines. As a result, fans were not allowed to bet on the NCAA East Regional in March, an event that featured Naismith Player of the Year Cooper Flagg. At this month’s NBA Draft, Flagg has been installed as the presumptive No 1 overall pick.
At the moment, Louisiana is considering a bill that would divert a portion of a sports betting tax increase to an NIL collective to fund athletic participation at public universities across the state. Last August, an Arkansas group floated an initiative for an online 50-50 raffle that would earmark a portion of its proceeds to an NIL fund.
The New Jersey bill, S-2155, passed unanimously on Tuesday by a vote of 38-0. The measure also passed unanimously in the House, winning approval in a 75-0 vote. The bill heads to the desk of Governor Phil Murphy for his signature.
Senate finally schedules nomination hearing for Quintenz
At long last, US President Donald Trump’s nominee for the nation’s derivatives regulator will receive his day on Capitol Hill.
On Wednesday, the US Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry announced that it will hold a confirmation hearing for Brian Quintenz, Trump’s nominee for chairman of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The hearing will take place on 10 June in the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
The hearing is being closely watched across the sports betting industry as the future of prediction markets hangs in the balance. Top industry lobbyists have expressed concerns that the rise of prediction markets could present an existential threat to the legal online gaming industry. Furthermore, MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle told iGB that if the states do not proceed correctly, the markets could be the “concrete” that sets the groundwork for federal regulations in online gambling.
Quintenz, a former CFTC commissioner, remains a member of Kalshi’s board of directors. Last month, however, Quintenz disclosed that he will resign from the board if his nomination is confirmed.
The CFTC has been beset with turnover at the commission level. As of 5 June, every CFTC commissioner has either departed from the agency or has announced plans to leave this year.
ICYMI on iGB
Golden State showdown: A look inside the lawsuit between California tribes and cardrooms
US online casino revenue totals $868.6 million in April, up 32.5% over 2024
List of opponents of massive Koi Nation casino in northern California keeps growing
Illinois lawmakers approve another sports betting tax hike. How will big sportsbooks react?
SailGP collaborates with DraftKings on betting offerings ahead of NY Grand Prix
Virginia sports betting handle rises 8.2% in April
Ontario iGaming revenue rises to CA$313.2 million in April
Musk’s X makes Polymarket official prediction market partner