Jose Canseco Suspended, But Barstool Rough N’ Rowdy Bets Still OK In Michigan

Can you please rewrite your request?

The Rough N’ Rowdy boxing series will once again be open for betting in Michigan next month, despite the event promoter accusing Jose Canseco of intentionally losing a boxing match more than two months ago.

If Barstool Sportsbook decides to offer markets to Michiganders for their own event, scheduled for April 23 in West Virginia, it could potentially include other states as well, not just Michigan.

Indefinitely suspended by the West Virginia State Athletic Commission, the retired baseball slugger’s days of moonlighting as a celebrity boxing sideshow may have come to an end.

However, Barstool has received approval for Rough N’ Rowdy 14 following an investigation by the commission into the Feb. 5 fight, which resulted in the sanctioning of the April card.

Canseco fighting again? No way, Jose

During February, Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, accused Canseco of deliberately losing to a Barstool intern in the main event of Rough N’ Rowdy 13 in Charles Town, W.Va. It was reported that Canseco received a payment of $1 million for his participation in the event.

According to Leon Ramsey, chairman of the WV commission, other boxing commissions across the country will respect Canseco’s suspension. Canseco, the former Oakland A’s Bash Brother, has the option to challenge the ban through an appeal.

Ramsey informed Playinmichigan that the suspension was primarily triggered by two significant incidents.

Canseco failed to disclose the full details of his injuries during the pre-fight screenings. He claimed to have aggravated a previously torn shoulder during the fight, while also having undergone knee surgery several months prior to the event.

Ramsey stated, “He failed to reveal any surgeries or acknowledge his poor health. It is expected that these questions are posed and answered honestly.”

In a Twitter post, Canseco disclosed that he has undergone surgery on his right shoulder following the fight, and he also intends to undergo a procedure on his left shoulder.

Ramsey claims that Canseco failed to demonstrate sufficient resistance during the altercation.

“According to Ramsey, it seemed like he had no desire or capability to engage in combat.”

Playinmichigan contacted the email addresses Canseco shared on Twitter, seeking their comments. One of the email addresses was shared last week during Canseco’s search for a favorable deal on a Weimaraner puppy. However, Canseco has not replied to the message.

Barstool Sports cleared for more Rough N’ Rowdy events in WV

Barstool thrives on viral controversies like the aftermath of the Jose Canseco boxing match and fight night.

In the headline bout, a 56-year-old Canseco faced off against 22-year-old Billy Football. Canseco swiftly found himself on the ground within a few seconds after launching an aggressive attack. He attempted to restrain Billy but ended up succumbing to the corner and ultimately deciding to quit.

Portnoy ensured the story remained active by tweeting that Canseco deliberately “took a dive” without a doubt.

Although there were theatrics involved, the commission ultimately determined that Barstool adhered to all required protocols.

According to Ramsey, they have acquired all the required permits and licenses and have diligently adhered to the guidelines. Consequently, there is no cause to take any action against them.

Ramsey stated that the host of the event, Hollywood Casino, which is owned by Penn National Gaming (PNG) and has a stake in Barstool Sports, shared the same sentiment.

Ramsey stated that the commission unanimously voted to suspend Canseco while exonerating Barstool and other parties involved.

Michigan sports bettors had action on Canseco fight

Before catching the attention of Barstool, Rough N’ Rowdy had already established itself as a cherished West Virginia tradition in small-town communities. In late 2017, Barstool acquired this promotion, incorporating their own personalities into the events and making it accessible through pay-per-view streaming.

Ramsey emphasized that the WV commission lacks authority to dictate whether other state regulators permit betting on their events. Additionally, he highlighted that West Virginia exclusively permits boxing bets on events organized by professional governing bodies like the World Boxing Association.

Similar to other state regulators, the Michigan Gaming Control Board allows sports betting markets to include fights that have been sanctioned by state athletic commissions.

What happened with bets on the Canseco fight?

The Jose Canseco boxing match occurred on February 5, which was fourteen days after the Michigan online sports betting market was introduced on January 22.

After a successful 10-day start in late January, Barstool Sportsbook continued its momentum. Portnoy and his buddies were still in downtown Detroit, capturing footage for Super Bowl LV, which was just two nights away from the Canseco fight.

Rough N’ Rowdy 13 flawlessly integrated into an otherwise tranquil sports schedule.

Barstool Sportsbook in Michigan provided promotional markets for Canseco and Billy, offering a +400 odds on both. The maximum bet allowed was $10.

According to Jeff Morris, a representative from Penn, he informed Playinmichigan about the measures taken by the book to address the consequences. He mentioned that all winning bets were duly paid out, while the losing bets were not only refunded but also accompanied by a contribution to the Barstool Fund. This fund played a vital role in providing assistance to small businesses during the pandemic.

No bettors from Michigan ended up losing money on the February event.

Morris explained that after the title fight ended, it seemed that the fighter who lost either got hurt or didn’t compete sincerely. Regardless of the situation, the Barstool Sportsbook decided that the bet should not stand as initially assessed. Consequently, they promptly canceled all losing bets, distributed winnings to the winners, and matched the losing bets by making a donation to the Barstool Fund.

Playinmichigan did not receive a response from Morris regarding whether Barstool will be providing markets in MI next month. Additionally, no other sportsbooks in Michigan accepted bets for the February fight.

According to Mary Kay Bean, spokesperson for the MGCB, the regulator neither provides comments on ongoing investigations nor discloses if any investigation is underway.

Will Barstool Sportsbook post next Rough N’ Rowdy?

At the time, Barstool Sportsbook was only operational in Pennsylvania besides West Virginia. However, Rough N’ Rowdy 13 bets were not accepted in Pennsylvania as the state’s Gaming Control Board communications director, Doug Harbach, confirmed last week that wagers for the event were not approved.

According to Gene O’Shea, spokesperson for the Illinois Gaming Board, the bets for Rough N’ Rowdy will proceed despite the addition of Barstool Sportsbook online in Illinois since the February 5 fight.

Virginia has received approval for a Barstool Sportsbook, but the exact opening date is still unknown. The Virginia Lottery website has a list of approved leagues and events, and it includes all Association of Boxing Commission and Combative Sports events, similar to Illinois, where betting is allowed.

By the end of April, Penn is set to introduce Barstool Sportsbook in Indiana. If everything goes as planned and it becomes operational by April 23, the Indiana Gaming Commission will grant approval for placing bets on boxing cards organized by the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports.

The lineup for the upcoming Rough N’ Rowdy 14 event is still being finalized. To participate in the fights scheduled for April 23 in Morgantown, all fighters must pass a screening process.

Afterwards, the responsibility solely rests on the fighters.

Ramsey expressed that it is not in our control to compel these individuals to engage in combat. Instead, we anticipate and expect them to exhibit their skills and abilities. The underlying belief and desire are that these individuals are in good health, prepared to participate, and will engage in a competitive fight.

“We lack the power to force them to do that. However, if they come in and fail to comply, that’s when we initiate the necessary course of action.”

Please rewrite your question or provide more context so that I can understand what you would like me to rewrite.