Jordan was a huge gambler. Total degenerate like most of us but what did Nike have to protect? He didn't break the law? The NBA didn't have a rule against gambling (ask NBA refs). Jordan loved blackjack (still does). I've gambled with him on the blackjack table many times. He likes private tables but if he sees me he will always call me over. Dude would get up 5am and play 3 rounds of golf (who the hell can play 3 straight rounds of golf?). He'd be out there until 4 to 5pm in the evening. He'd lose money on the course most days. He'd chill for a couple hours, then hit the tables around 8pm until about 3am and do it over for 2 weeks. My uncle use to train him (said he is an awful golfer). Jordan was obsessed with winning. He hated to lose. One more game, one more shot, one more shoe. That's why he was the best.
To clarify, in ALL major sports, athletes can visit “legally-operated casinos and horse or dog racing tracks” and bet money on the action. Jordan, like most athletes are often seen at casinos. Hell, most gambling by NBA players are on the team plane and in the hotel lobby where they love to play cards. I was in San Antonio a few years ago and I saw several Nugget players playing Tonk with stacks of 20's. The very next night the Knicks was in town and a few guys was in the same spot playing the same game.
I still think it's bullshit Pete Rose is not in the Hall of Fame. And yes, I've played blackjack with him on dozens of occasions. Cool guy. Very entertaining to shoot the shit with. Did he bet on baseball? Hell yes. Did he bet on his team? Yes. Did he bet against his team? Hell fukkin no!