Eli5: Why are professional athletes typically banned from placing bets that are in favor of their own team/themselves?

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I understand why you would not want athletes to throw games on purpose if they place a large bet for the opposing team to win, however let’s say I am a pitcher in baseball, and I place a bet for my own team to win, wouldn’t that only motivate me to play better because I stand to win more money by doing so?

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Anonymous 0 Comments

Betting rules for sports were made before players made a lot of money. So preventing them from betting meant they wouldn’t be able to become independent, whether through legal betting or not- legal betting(as in sharing with someone on opposing team or other workarounds.

In general if a rule or law involves money it exists to protect the wealthy and prevent the poor from becoming wealthy. It can have rational reasons and arguments, but the driving force is almost always class warfare.

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