A simple understanding of business motivations and probabilities explains how it’s impossible to beat the house in the long run. For young adults who don’t quite understand risk and reward and may not fully comprehend the value of money, sportsbooks—a company that takes bets on sporting events—have a free run at their pockets to completely exploit their naivety. But Fanduel, Draftkings, Caesars, BetMGM, ESPN Bet, and Fanatics wouldn’t have the same success without help from the national sports media.
With the assistance of big-time names and flashy, exploitative headlines, sportsbooks are able to rely on every corner of the industry to aid their hostile takeover. While most people would assume that the sports media would be on their side, delivering the best stories and breaking news timely and accurately, it has recently become far from that.
ESPN has seen a golden opportunity to profit from the increased prominence in sports betting and its progressive nationwide legalization by creating ESPN Bet, its very own sportsbook. It’s very alarming to see the largest sports media company in the world manage a betting platform where their own coverage influences their very own betting markets.
And so when much-revered NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski retired in September from ESPN, it marked another victory for the gambling industry. While Woj will certainly be remembered for his dedication and consistency, his legacy will be underscored by the integrity he brought to the position. With egocentric reporters like Adam Schefter and Shams Charania dominating the industry’s reporting, Woj was a breath of fresh air, never letting his own aspirations get in the way of his coverage.
Meanwhile, Charania, The Athletic’s former lead NBA reporter, held a partnership with Fanduel Sportsbook while reporting on NBA teams. During 2023 NBA Draft preparations, Charania tweeted about his speculation towards the Charlotte Hornets’ choice at the second overall pick, which single-handedly skewed betting markets in favor of G League Ignite’s Scoot Henderson.
Contrary to what Charania’s “sources” claimed, the Hornets selected Miller over Henderson, a surprise to everyone besides Woj.
The sports industry needs more people like Wojnarowski, as this media sector quickly becomes overshadowed by corruption and distrust. As long as sports betting remains unregulated, conditions will inevitably worsen. It will undoubtedly be more difficult for fans to decipher fake content from reality, especially as sports journalists remain the only window into official sources for the public. It’s up to ESPN and other top sports outlets to right their wrongs and protect vulnerable fans from constant exploitation.