MLB says DFS isn’t gambling, but league will restrict players’ DFS activities

Major League Baseball (MLB) won’t let its players participate in daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests involving baseball if those contests involve the chance to win a prize.

One week after MLB significantly expanded its relationship with DFS operator DraftKings, ESPN reported that the league had reached a deal with its players’ association to restrict players’ DFS activities. Players will still be allowed to participate in DFS baseball contests provided there’s no chance to win something of value. There are also no restrictions on participating in non-baseball DFS contests and players retain the right to enter into endorsement deals with DFS baseball sites.

At this week’s IMG World Congress in Los Angeles, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred attempted to split hairs by saying that, while he doesn’t view DFS as gambling, players who enter DFS baseball contests for prizes will be subject to discipline under Rule 21, which deals with gambling issues.

Specifically, Rule 21 threatens players with a one-year ‘ineligible’ status for betting on any baseball game in which they’re not involved and a ‘permanently ineligible’ designation for betting on any game in which they’re directly involved. That latter designation is what’s keeping former Cincinnati Reds great Pete Rose out of the Hall of Fame.