Ohio Commission Bans Bettor Over Alleged Threats to Blue Jays Manager

The Ohio Casino Control Commission has banned Blake Morgan of Thornville, Ohio, from sports wagering for alleged threats against Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider. This action follows an investigation linking the threats to bets made during the 2025 World Series.

What Happened

The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) placed Blake Morgan on its Sports Gaming Involuntary Exclusion List on Wednesday, October 22, 2026. This decision stemmed from an investigation that connected alleged threats made against Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider during the 2025 World Series to Morgan’s wagering activity. Morgan, a resident of Thornville, Ohio, reportedly denied making the threats, according to ESPN.

Major League Baseball (MLB) initially notified the commission about the threats, providing witness testimony and evidence that regulators subsequently used in their determination. The OCCC’s Interim Executive Director, Andromeda Morrison, stated that such actions threatening harm or violence against sports participants due to wagering will not be tolerated, emphasizing the commission’s commitment to maintaining sports gaming integrity in Ohio.

Key Details

• Blake Morgan allegedly called MLB’s customer service line around October 28, 2025, during Game 4 of the World Series, reportedly threatening to physically harm Schneider on live television and claiming to know his address, according to commission records obtained by ESPN.
• MLB investigators traced the call to Morgan, who later acknowledged gambling and making the call to an MLB security representative, stating he was “pissed off” about Schneider’s press conference comments but had no intention of traveling.
• MLB banned Morgan indefinitely from its venues and events two days after the game, and the OCCC played audio during a June hearing of calls allegedly made by Morgan in November 2025 and March 2026 where he claimed a visitor made the call, according to ESPN.
• Morgan is the first individual placed on Ohio’s Sports Gaming Involuntary Exclusion List specifically for “threats of harm or violence,” as confirmed by the OCCC to Legal Sports Report.

Why It Matters

This case marks the first exclusion under a 2023 Ohio law, which established the state as the first to grant regulators the authority to ban bettors who threaten individuals involved in sporting events. The OCCC’s action aligns with a broader push from major sports leagues, including MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLS, which jointly urged gaming regulators to permanently ban bettors involved in threatening or harassing athletes, coaches, and officials. David Thomas, head of security for MLB, testified to the OCCC in June that harassment has increased significantly since 2018 when states began legalizing sports betting.

The precedent set by Ohio’s regulatory framework, alongside similar legislative efforts in West Virginia and Louisiana, which now allow regulators to exclude harassing bettors and impose potential felony charges, indicates a growing industry focus on participant protection. Massachusetts has also introduced a “Bet on Respect” system for reporting harassment, underscoring a collective effort to address conduct impacting the integrity and safety of sports events.

Originally reported by Legal Sports Report·Published 22 Oct 2026, 15:10