The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) has banned a sports bettor from the state’s legal gambling market following allegations that he threatened Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider during the 2025 World Series.
Commissioners voted on October 21 to place Blake Morgan, a resident of Thornville, Ohio, on the Sports Gaming Involuntary Exclusion List. The decision prohibits him from gambling at licensed facilities and participating in regulated online sports betting in Ohio.
The case concerns a telephone call made to Major League Baseball’s (MLB) customer service department around October 28, 2025, during Game 4 of the World Series between Toronto and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Investigators attributed the nearly 14-minute conversation to Morgan, who allegedly threatened Schneider following a dispute over how the Blue Jays handled Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani.
Morgan denied making the threats and said he had appealed the allegations after receiving notification from the commission in March.
Ohtani Betting Dispute Prompts MLB Investigation
The incident followed Schneider’s decisions regarding Ohtani during the championship series.
Toronto intentionally walked the Dodgers star four times in Game 3. Schneider subsequently discussed the possibility of intentionally walking him again in Game 4 but ultimately allowed his pitcher to face Ohtani.
During the call, the person identified by investigators as Morgan accused the manager of misleading bettors about his intentions.
“That was a gambling grab. This game is not legit,” the caller said. “There’s shady, fake and disturbing behavior going on.”
The caller also claimed that gamblers had placed substantial wagers based on expectations that Ohtani would receive intentional walks.
According to recordings obtained during the investigation, he threatened physical violence against Schneider and claimed to possess his home address and personal information.
MLB security officials traced the call to Morgan and contacted him.
According to testimony presented during the regulatory proceedings, Morgan acknowledged gambling and making the call but said he had no intention of travelling to Toronto or Los Angeles.
He subsequently disputed responsibility, claiming that another person visiting his home had made the threatening call.
During a June hearing, regulators examined additional recordings of calls made to MLB in November 2025 and March 2026 in which the caller denied responsibility for the original threats.
Morgan did not attend the hearing.
MLB had already banned him indefinitely from its stadiums and events two days after the World Series incident. Local law enforcement also contacted him, although it remains unclear whether criminal charges were filed.
Ohio Regulators Enforce Betting Exclusion Rules
The OCCC’s decision followed an investigation conducted with assistance from MLB.
Commission Executive Director Andromeda Morrison emphasised that threatening behaviour connected to gambling would result in regulatory consequences.
“Sports gaming should be conducted responsibly, and any act that threatens harm or violence against sports participants because of wagering will not be tolerated,” Morrison said.
“The Commission remains committed to preserving the integrity of sports gaming in Ohio and will take appropriate action against individuals whose conduct violates Ohio law.”
MLB supported the ruling, stating:
“We commend the final order by the Ohio Casino Control Commission,” a league spokesperson said in a statement to ESPN. “We will continue to work with regulators across the country to protect those who work in our industry from unacceptable threats.”
The Blue Jays declined to comment, although the organisation was reportedly aware of the allegations.
Morgan becomes the third person added to Ohio’s involuntary sports gaming exclusion list.
Previous additions include former Alabama baseball coach Brad Bohannon and another Ohio resident connected to a betting scheme involving inside information.
Ohio is among the states that permit gambling regulators to exclude individuals who threaten or harass sports participants.
Sports Leagues Push for Stronger Harassment Measures
The decision comes as major North American sports organisations seek additional protections against gambling-related abuse.
In September, MLB joined the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLS, alongside their players associations, in urging state regulators to introduce stronger measures against threatening bettors.
Their proposals included permanent betting bans for offenders and standardised reporting procedures to help authorities identify harassment across different sports.
MLB security chief David Thomas told Ohio regulators that threats directed at players and their families had increased following the expansion of legal sports betting in the United States beginning in 2018.
One previous incident involved Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers, who reported threats against his children after a poor performance in May 2025.
Police traced the messages to an intoxicated bettor overseas, although no charges were filed.
The MLB Players Association has separately called for restrictions on player proposition bets and similar prediction market contracts based on individual performances.
In August, the union informed federal lawmakers that MLB had resisted a proposed joint effort to prohibit such betting markets, although discussions remained ongoing.
National security expert Matthew Wein has also highlighted the difficulties authorities face when investigating threats made through anonymous online accounts.
He suggested improved information sharing between sports organisations to help identify individuals responsible for harassment.