[VeggieDog]

https://www.espn.com/chalk/story/_/i...cious-activity


Ohio gambling regulators on Monday instructed the state's licensed sportsbooks to halt betting on college baseball games involving Alabama after suspicious wagering activity was detected on the Crimson Tide's game against top-ranked LSU on Friday.


The directive, issued by Ohio Casino Control Commission executive director Matthew T. Schuler and obtained by ESPN, prohibits "the acceptance of any wagers on University of Alabama baseball effective immediately."


Schuler wrote that the emergency order was in response to a report from an independent integrity monitor. On Friday, U.S. Integrity, a Las Vegas-based firm that monitors the betting markets, issued an alert to its sportsbook clients regarding "suspicious wagering activity" involving the Alabama-LSU game.


The Louisiana Gaming Control Board told NOLA.com that two specific bets -- both made in Cincinnati, Ohio -- triggered the suspicious activity alert. "One was on a parlay which involved the LSU-Alabama game, and then there was another straight-up (money line) bet," said Ronnie Johns, chairman of the board. "I was told it was a large bet that involved LSU-Alabama."


Because there is no national gaming regulator, a halt on wagering typically happens on a state-by-state basis.


But Sportsbook FanDuel has removed Alabama baseball games from its betting menu in all jurisdictions as a precautionary measure.


Jessica Franks, director of communications for the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC), said the suspicious wagering activity took place at the BetMGM sportsbook that's located at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. Franks declined to provide additional details about the suspicious wagering but said that the specificity of information the OCCC received from one of its certified, independent integrity monitors was "enough to prohibit all wagers on Alabama baseball."


On Tuesday, an MGM spokesperson told ESPN in a statement, "We work closely with our suspicious activity monitoring provider, US Integrity, regulatory bodies, and law enforcement when necessary. We're actively working with the OCCC on this incident and won't be providing additional commentary at this time."


LSU led Alabama 8-1 after seven innings and held off a late rally by the Crimson Tide for an 8-6 victory on Friday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Tigers were around -245 favorites over the Crimson Tide in the game in question.


Alabama plays Vanderbilt on Thursday.

[johnnyvegas13]

I wonder what the bet was

vaseball hardest sport to pt shave imo

[Headsterx]

JFC... any bet on college baseball that's not CWS should be scrutinized.

[KVB]

It's not a very liquid sport but there are tons of games and a pretty big bet history in the sport.

When something unusual happens, they can tell, it sticks out.

Shady bettors seem to forget that. It's amazing how greed affects memory and cognition.

[dollarbill]

With more States opening up sports betting the talk will get louder. Unlike casino action the VIG is much different. I think Casino’s have much more profit

[d2bets]

Were the bets on Alabama or LSU? I can't tell.

Two bets? That's it? I wonder if they were able to link those individuals to one of these schools in some way. Otherwise, I can't see how two bets alone is so suspicious.

[Eddy Munny]

I wonder what the bet was

vaseball hardest sport to pt shave imo

[KVB]

Were the bets on Alabama or LSU? I can't tell.

Two bets? That's it? I wonder if they were able to link those individuals to one of these schools in some way. Otherwise, I can't see how two bets alone is so suspicious.

I think they were bets on the favorite, seems like I heard that.

But notice it's Alabama baseball that's being pulled.

Maybe Bama was tossing games, the were pretty decent dogs against LSU, probably thought nobody would notice.

[KVB]

Perfect!

[d2bets]

I think they were bets on the favorite, seems like I heard that.

But notice it's Alabama baseball that's being pulled.

Maybe Bama was tossing games, the were pretty decent dogs against LSU, probably thought nobody would notice.

Right, but like there must be more to this story than "two large wagers". They must have connected it somehow to players.

[KVB]

Right, but like there must be more to this story than "two large wagers". They must have connected it somehow to players.

Bama fired the coach...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Alabama has fired head baseball coach Brad Bohannon for &quot;violating the standards, duties, and responsibilities expected of University employees.&quot;<br><br>The decision comes after reports of &quot;suspicious wagering activity&quot; surrounding Alabama baseball games. <a href="https://t.co/MDqT5kzwG3">pic.twitter.com/MDqT5kzwG3</a></p>&mdash; Front Office Sports (@FOS) <a href="https://twitter.com/FOS/status/1654147695618011136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" >May 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[bjb7223]

Bama fired the coach...

Alabama has fired head baseball coach Brad Bohannon for "violating the standards, duties, and responsibilities expected of University employees."

The decision comes after reports of "suspicious wagering activity" surrounding Alabama baseball games. pic.twitter.com/MDqT5kzwG3

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) May 4, 2023

whoa, I wonder how many times this guy did this

[d2bets]

Whoa! I'm guessing he either passed on some sort of inside information (e.g. injuries) or, well, or something even more nefarious. I'm sure we will eventually find out more. They will probably want to make an example of this.

[johnnyvegas13]

Lol not players but the coach

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Lol not players but the coach

Do you think it was a tipoff...when his sportsbook acct was CoachBoh?

[TheMoneyShot]

To be honest... you can't tell much from just a regular outsider looking in.... in regards to the opening line favorite/underdog... honestly.. nothing to see here.

Furthermore, what is considered a LARGE WAGER? Most shops have limits of around 1k or less on college baseball. 1k isn't large. I'm sure it would be rather easy putting the story together based on wagering info, account holders name/address, and who is that said person linked too. Unless you had several runners... you could easily piece this story together... hence Alabama's coach fired.

I still feel there is some crucial information being withheld from this story. It's not adding up.

[KVB]

Of course there's more to the story. You think they're going to tell the future scammers what tipped them off?

I know a bit about how this works, quite a bit actually, and what shouldn't be written in the Forum, but if you guys really want to wrap your heads around it you need to think bigger picture. The bets that set the red flag don't have to be the only bets made.

Like I said, low liquidity markets make it very easy to spot suspicious activity...that is the essence of this particular case.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Ya, Coll Baseball is a niche betting sport. My recollection is: micro-limits and even 30-cent juice.

Even when you get into the NCAA tournament, it's not high limits at short juice. That said, I do think there are guys who know Coll Baseball inside-out. Think the sharps could beat the # on this sport.

[KVB]

It's possible they have the coach and bettor being in contact while the bets against Bama were being made.

Not a good look for the coach, as if already being fired isn't bad enough.

[d2bets]

It's possible they have the coach and bettor being in contact while the bets against Bama were being made.

Not a good look for the coach, as if already being fired isn't bad enough.

If true along those lines, I imagine there could be some criminal implications potentially.

[stevex]

https://www.espn.com/chalk/story/_/i...cious-activity


Ohio gambling regulators on Monday instructed the state's licensed sportsbooks to halt betting on college baseball games involving Alabama after suspicious wagering activity was detected on the Crimson Tide's game against top-ranked LSU on Friday.


The directive, issued by Ohio Casino Control Commission executive director Matthew T. Schuler and obtained by ESPN, prohibits "the acceptance of any wagers on University of Alabama baseball effective immediately."


Schuler wrote that the emergency order was in response to a report from an independent integrity monitor. On Friday, U.S. Integrity, a Las Vegas-based firm that monitors the betting markets, issued an alert to its sportsbook clients regarding "suspicious wagering activity" involving the Alabama-LSU game.


The Louisiana Gaming Control Board told NOLA.com that two specific bets -- both made in Cincinnati, Ohio -- triggered the suspicious activity alert. "One was on a parlay which involved the LSU-Alabama game, and then there was another straight-up (money line) bet," said Ronnie Johns, chairman of the board. "I was told it was a large bet that involved LSU-Alabama."


Because there is no national gaming regulator, a halt on wagering typically happens on a state-by-state basis.


But Sportsbook FanDuel has removed Alabama baseball games from its betting menu in all jurisdictions as a precautionary measure.


Jessica Franks, director of communications for the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC), said the suspicious wagering activity took place at the BetMGM sportsbook that's located at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. Franks declined to provide additional details about the suspicious wagering but said that the specificity of information the OCCC received from one of its certified, independent integrity monitors was "enough to prohibit all wagers on Alabama baseball."


On Tuesday, an MGM spokesperson told ESPN in a statement, "We work closely with our suspicious activity monitoring provider, US Integrity, regulatory bodies, and law enforcement when necessary. We're actively working with the OCCC on this incident and won't be providing additional commentary at this time."


LSU led Alabama 8-1 after seven innings and held off a late rally by the Crimson Tide for an 8-6 victory on Friday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Tigers were around -245 favorites over the Crimson Tide in the game in question.


Alabama plays Vanderbilt on Thursday.

Lol. If the Bama coach gave inside information, you could barely get down anything big wager wise. It’s college baseball, the limits are MAYBE risk $250 to $500. What a waste and to lose all respect for, what?

[raiders72001]

ESPN has reported that "suspicious wagering activity" was involved in Alabama's 8-6 loss to LSU.
Alabama starting pitcher Luke Holman was a late scratch for that contest, according to the team's game notes. Hagan Banks replaced him. Bohannon was quoted in the game notes as saying Banks found out an hour before the first pitch that he was going to start.

https://www.dispatch.com/story/sport...s/70183750007/

[bjb7223]

https://www.dispatch.com/story/sport...s/70183750007/

ha an Auburn plant

[TheMoneyShot]

Another interesting point in the game... anyone have the play by play during the Alabama comeback? Odd base running? Or odd pinch hitting when the team tried to make a comeback? They only lost the game by 2 runs. Once down by 7.

[stevenash]

Apologies for the cut/paste job, if you don't have a subscription you won't be able to read the content.



By David Ubben and Andy StaplesMay 4, 2023


https://theathletic.com/4488667/2023...mpaign=6737361


Alabama fired baseball coach Brad Bohannon after he was found to be connected with betting activity in Ohio concerning the LSU-Alabama game on Friday, two people briefed on the investigation told The Athletic.


The university announced Thursday that Bohannon was being fired for “violating the standards, duties, and responsibilities expected of University employees.” A person familiar with the investigation said there was no evidence that any athletes were involved.


According to a statement issued by the school, athletic director Greg Byrne initiated the termination process, and Alabama will not provide further comment due to an “ongoing review.”


Bohannon’s firing comes days after a report that Ohio gambling regulators instructed sportsbooks to halt betting on Alabama baseball games on Monday afternoon. ESPN obtained the text of an emergency order sent to Ohio sportsbooks regarding “suspicious wagering activity” on last Friday’s game against LSU, and NOLA.com later reported that two suspicious bets placed in Cincinnati, both involving LSU winning the game, triggered the alert.


Ronnie Johns, the chair of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, said his organization received an email this weekend from the independent gaming monitoring company U.S. Integrity, alerting the organization to a large bet placed on the Alabama-LSU game. Johns said his organization checked to ensure that no one at LSU was involved and found no evidence that anyone with the Tigers played any role.


U.S. Integrity contracts with sportsbooks, sports leagues and state regulators to track gaming transactions. U.S. Integrity president Matt Holt declined to reveal the amount of the bets placed, but he explained that his company monitors several factors that could generate a red flag. This includes an unusually large amount bet on a sport that doesn’t tend to draw wagers of that level and whether a bettor just opened an account or recently reactivated an account. If a bet triggers a red flag in U.S. Integrity’s computer system or if a sportsbook operator reports suspicious activity, a U.S. Integrity employee investigates and issues an anonymized warning to state control boards and sportsbooks. In the case of the Alabama-LSU bets, this process happened “within minutes,” Holt said.


On Monday, Ohio’s Casino Control Commission issued an order to remove Alabama baseball games from the board. John Murray, the director of sports at Westgate’s Superbook, said that operators follow such directives immediately. “We let the regulators guide us,” Murray said. Murray said college baseball doesn’t typically draw heavy wagering until the College World Series.


Johns said it’s critical that when suspicious bets get placed, regulators and teams take quick action. “The system worked,” Johns said. “We have to protect the integrity of sports wagering or the system will crater.” Asked whether authorities in Louisiana might pursue criminal action against anyone involved in this case, Johns said that at this point his organization has no knowledge of anything specific to the case happening in Baton Rouge. Johns said that if Ohio’s regulatory commission finds any possible evidence of actions in Louisiana affecting the bet, Louisiana’s board would investigate.


On Wednesday, New Jersey sportsbooks joined Ohio in banning any wagers on Alabama baseball games. On Thursday morning, Pennsylvania sportsbooks also banned wagers on Alabama baseball games.


“The prohibition on Alabama baseball wagers (in Ohio) continues until it is lifted by the Commission,” said Jessica Franks, the director of communications for the Ohio Casino Control Commission. “I can’t give you a timeline on when our investigation might wrap up. It will take as long as it takes.”


The game in question was the first of a three-game series in Baton Rouge between Alabama and LSU, the consensus No. 1 team in the country. Hours before the start of the game, Alabama scratched projected starting pitcher Luke Holman due to back tightness and started righthander Hagan Banks in his place. The Crimson Tide trailed 8-1 after seven innings and rallied with five runs in the final two frames, but third baseman Colby Shelton struck out with runners on first and second to secure an 8-6 loss. LSU was a heavy favorite in the game.


Alabama has posted winning seasons in each of the last five seasons under Bohannon and was 30-15 this season and 9-12 in SEC play, tied for third in the SEC West. The Crimson Tide are set to host Vanderbilt on Thursday night.


Pitching coach Jason Jackson will serve as interim head coach.


“The University of Alabama has taken swift action after information about baseball sports wagering activity was questioned by industry regulators,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement Thursday afternoon. “Ensuring the integrity of athletic competition is our highest priority, and for that purpose the SEC monitors gambling activity through its relationship with US Integrity and has done so since 2018.


“The University of Alabama has taken swift action after information about baseball sports wagering activity was questioned by industry regulators,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement Thursday afternoon. “Ensuring the integrity of athletic competition is our highest priority, and for that purpose the SEC monitors gambling activity through its relationship with US Integrity and has done so since 2018.


“There must be zero tolerance for activity that puts into question the integrity of competition. We will remain in communication with the University throughout its ongoing review and will have no further comment at this time.”

[Optional]

Good job by US Integrity to be on to it in real time.

I hope we get to learn more about the bet sizes and if they had already linked those accounts to the coach and were waiting for him to hang himself.

[bjb7223]

Talk about a career ended

[TheMoneyShot]

It's still quite interesting to me... this entire situation. It's not like Alabama was the favorite... and they took a dive intentionally. LSU was the favorite... and they won. From anyone on the outside looking in.... there's nothing that noticeably stands out. There's times in college baseball where there is a quick starting pitching change. All we know is that there were "irregular wagers" on the game. So what are they really saying?? People shouldn't take a favorite?

I want to know during the rally... Alabama making a comeback... did the coach do something intentional... to stop the rally. So Alabama wouldn't win. Like, send a runner to be thrown out? Steal? A bunt out of character? Maybe a pinch hitter that sucks?

[stevenash]

I was a HS varsity and D2 catcher.

As a catcher I've seen many 'head scratching' questionable calls on 2-2 pitch counts.
By that I mean I've seen several times a clear strike three pitch be called ball three, and I say to myself (if I question a ball/strike call I get ejected) I say to myself "WTF ump, that was strike three"

So instead of a strike three looking, inning over called ball three, the at bat continues, now the count is 3-2, and I now my pitcher needs to come in to the hitter to avoid a base on balls, and you can guess the rest, yep, the batter laces a double for instance.

Talk about things that make you say "hmm"

[KVB]

Good job by US Integrity to be on to it in real time.

I hope we get to learn more about the bet sizes and if they had already linked those accounts to the coach and were waiting for him to hang himself.

Yeah, this is the real winner in the story and a message to those who think they are too small to get noticed.

[Mike78]

Apologies if this has already been mentioned. But the individual alleged to have made these bets was seen talking on his cell phone to the coach by surveillance cameras while he was placing the bets at the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. (See below from the ESPN chalk article.) I heard the writer of this article talk about this yesterday on ESPN.

Dumb question. Why would someone planning to do this decide to place the bets in a public venue with security cameras instead of the privacy of his own home (or even his car)?

From ESPN:

Alabama baseball coach Brad Bohannon was fired Thursday amid a widespread investigation into suspicious betting activity on the Crimson Tide's game against LSU six days ago.
Sportsbook surveillance video indicated that the person who placed the bets was communicating with Bohannon at the time, multiple sources with direct information about the investigation told ESPN.
The school announced that athletic director Greg Byrne has "initiated the termination process" for Bohannon for "among other things, violating the standards, duties, and responsibilities expected of University employees."
Jason Jackson will serve as Alabama's interim coach, according to the school, which said it will not provide further comment because of an "ongoing review." The Crimson Tide won their first game under Jackson, defeating Vanderbilt 11-2 on Thursday night.
ESPN has reached out to Bohannon for comment.
The alleged suspicious activity took place Friday at the sportsbook at the Great American Ball Park, according to the Ohio Casino Control Commission.

[hostile takeover]

If you ain't cheatin' you ain't tryin'

[hehfest]

So, its like, hey, bro, this is the game brah. I'm going to change starters and I will call you to confirm. This guy is gonna get "rocked" because he aint got shit. Put up all you can. Its a sure thing. And, hey mate, don't you worry; If our team makes a run.....ha ha, I will pinch hit a couple guys that can't hit for a lick. This is guaranteed mate.

This is your gift for that time you got me off the hook!

[eidolon]

So the idiot didn't spend $20 on a burner phone?

[ChuckyTheGoat]

I was a HS varsity and D2 catcher.

As a catcher I've seen many 'head scratching' questionable calls on 2-2 pitch counts.
By that I mean I've seen several times a clear strike three pitch be called ball three, and I say to myself (if I question a ball/strike call I get ejected) I say to myself "WTF ump, that was strike three"

So instead of a strike three looking, inning over called ball three, the at bat continues, now the count is 3-2, and I now my pitcher needs to come in to the hitter to avoid a base on balls, and you can guess the rest, yep, the batter laces a double for instance.

Talk about things that make you say "hmm"

Nashy, I've always thought this. It's not an automated strike zone. There's definitely a mentality on certain counts.

IMHO, the BEST baseball players are the smartest players. Greg Maddux comes to mind. Greg said he felt like he had an edge on the 1-1 pitch, b/c he knew where to throw it.

With two strikes, I swear the ump is thinking "Why didn't he SWING...if it's a strike?"

On 3-2 pitches, it's so much of a mind-game. Can I get this guy to chase the breaking pitch? It takes a truly great hitter to lay off a pitch that's two inches out of the zone.