Ohio commission excludes bettor over threats to Blue Jays manager

The Ohio Casino Control Commission has placed Blake Morgan on the state's sports gaming involuntary exclusion list, according to an order issued by the regulator. The order bars Morgan from entering sports gaming facilities in Ohio and from taking part in sports gaming activities in the state.

Per the order, the matter traces to a call placed to the customer service line of Major League Baseball on or around 28 October 2025. The Commission alleged that Morgan directed harassing and threatening remarks at Schneider, the Toronto Blue Jays manager, and that those remarks were tied to his betting on the 2025 World Series matchup between the Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers. MLB then barred Morgan indefinitely from its stadiums, offices and other facilities. Ohio's regulator subsequently opened its own case and determined that the conduct justified exclusion from sports gaming in the state.

After Morgan sought review of the regulator's proposed action, the matter went to a hearing. The Commission observed that Morgan was absent, and the hearing proceeded before a hearing examiner. That examiner advised placing Morgan on the involuntary exclusion list. Morgan then filed objections, contending in part that an MLB investigator had given him the impression that no further action would follow and that certain evidence in the case was defective. The Commission's ruling held that statements attributed to MLB's investigator could not stop it from performing its own duties.

Under the final order, Morgan retains the right to appeal the decision through the courts.

The Ohio order arrived only weeks after six major US leagues and their players' unions made a joint push for stricter treatment of bettors who threaten sports participants. In a September letter to state gaming regulators, the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS and the unions representing their players asked for firmer measures against people who target those involved in sporting events out of betting-related frustration. Their proposals included a lifetime ban, described as mandatory, applying to anyone who harasses or threatens athletes, coaches, officials, team staff or family members. They further supported a nationwide reporting system through which regulators, leagues and betting operators could exchange information and add offenders to exclusion lists in several states at once. According to the organisations, legal sports betting's growth has brought greater fan engagement while also generating more abusive behaviour directed at people in professional sports.