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The main event of Rough N’ Rowdy last Friday was far from what was expected.
In the latest celebrity boxing event, Jose Canseco allegedly earned more than $1 million by quickly succumbing to a Barstool Sports intern, lasting only a dozen seconds.
Later on, the promoter of the fight, who also serves as the public representative of a Michigan sports betting operator that legally participated in the event, alleged that Canseco purposely lost the fight.
On this occasion, none of the bettors from Michigan experienced any losses in relation to the event.
However, the chairman of the West Virginia state commission informed Playinmichigan that they are currently looking into the incidents in question and have not made a decision regarding the approval of future Rough N’ Rowdy cards.
With discussions about upcoming celebrity fights circulating at Barstool, it’s important to reflect on the peculiar event and contemplate whether Michigan bettors should participate in future action.
Stay updated on the latest news about Jose Canseco’s status in West Virginia by following the story here.
Jose Canseco fight lasted shorter than a roulette spin
In the main event of Rough N’ Rowdy 13 in Charles Town, W.V., Canseco, the former slugger at the age of 56, stepped into the ring to face off against “Billy Football,” a Barstool intern.
Hollywood Casino, a property owned by Penn National Gaming, played host to the event. This was a perfect match considering that Rough N’ Rowdy is associated with Barstool, a company in which Penn holds a 36% stake and serves as its online gambling partner.
In anticipation of the event, Canseco and Billy Football engaged in a heated social media exchange. The event was accessible to Stoolies all over the globe, with a streaming fee of $20.
Everyone was benefiting until the night of the fight.
In the beginning, Canseco aggressively targeted his 22-year-old opponent, attempting to engage in close combat while enduring a series of strikes. Unfortunately, he lost his balance and tumbled into the corner, ultimately deciding to withdraw from the fight.
Michigan bettors were in on the action
On January 22nd, Michigan sports betting commenced, with the Barstool Sportsbook being one of the ten operators participating from the very beginning.
Recently, Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool, along with other individuals, has been actively promoting the brand in Michigan. They have been focusing their efforts on Greektown Casino in Detroit, which is also owned by Penn.
Apart from professional boxing matches sanctioned by the IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO, the Michigan Gaming Control Board has granted approval for betting on fights endorsed by state athletic commissions (limited to sanctioned fights).
Mary Kay Bean, spokesperson for the MGCB, noted that the State Athletic Commission in West Virginia sanctioned Rough N’ Rowdy 13.
Chairman Leon Ramsey stated that an ongoing investigation is being conducted regarding the match. The sanctioning of Rough ‘N Rowdy cards is determined on a per-event basis, with no scheduled dates currently available. The commission, consisting of individuals appointed by the governor, will evaluate forthcoming events as they are submitted for consideration.
According to Ramsey, the deadline to submit applications for sanctioning is 30 days after the event, and he anticipates that the investigation will take several weeks to conclude.
He expressed his belief that everyone had anticipated a more intense battle, but unfortunately, circumstances turned out differently. He acknowledged that it would be necessary to delve deeper into the matter to gain a better understanding.
Rough N’ Rowdy wasn’t always a Barstool brand
Rough N’ Rowdy had been a well-established tradition in small-town West Virginia even before it captured the attention of Barstool.
In 2017, the Washington Post highlighted an annual event taking place in the “forgotten town” of Welch, located in rural West Virginia. This event involved untrained fighters competing against fellow townspeople, occasionally even pitted against childhood friends.
With enthusiastic crowds rooting for their favorite ring girl, the beginning of March transformed into a lively Welch festival reminiscent of a vibrant county fair.
In 2017, Barstool acquired the entity and transformed it into a pay-per-view spectacle, injecting it with its unique style and charm.
Portnoy: Canseco received over $1 million on the fight
Predictably, Portnoy further intensified the dispute afterwards.
Portnoy revealed that Jose Canseco’s earnings from the event exceeded $1 million, setting a new record for pay-per-view purchases.
Portnoy tweeted, “Without a doubt, Jose intentionally took a dive. We had given him half of the payment in advance, with the promise of double if he emerged victorious. Our intention was to motivate him to fight, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out as we had hoped.”
Michigan bettors were refunded losing Jose Canseco bets
The Barstool Sportsbook has set up a market where Jose Canseco and Billy Football have been given +400 odds to win on a maximum bet of $10. Portnoy, the founder of Barstool, announced that any proceeds from unsuccessful bets will be directed towards The Barstool Fund. This fund aims to support small businesses that are facing difficulties due to the ongoing pandemic.
Following the altercation, Barstool Sportsbook settled the Billy Football wagers and nullified the Canseco bets, offering customers a $10 reimbursement.
A refund was not provided for the $20 pay-per-view.
In a statement to Playinmichigan, Jeff Morris, a spokesperson for PNG, referred to the wager involving Canseco as a “promotional” one. Despite the cancellation of the bets, Morris highlighted that the sum of money placed on the former Oakland A’s player was still contributed to The Barstool Fund.
Morris stated that after the title fight ended, it seemed that the fighter who lost was either injured or did not compete with sincerity. He further mentioned that regardless of the situation, the Barstool Sportsbook deemed it inappropriate to uphold the original grading of the wager. Consequently, they promptly nullified all losing bets, distributed winnings to the winners, and matched the losing bets by making a donation to the Barstool Fund.
New Michigan sports betting industry doesn’t need controversy
It took the Michigan state legislature several years to approve sports betting.
Following Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s endorsement of expanded gambling laws in December 2019, it took an additional 13 months for online sports betting to finally commence.
While it is commendable that part of the delays were intended to ensure the practice’s legality and reputation, the industry cannot afford to be burdened with doubts about its legitimacy. It is crucial for operators and decision-makers to carefully consider whether the revenue generated by such gimmick events is worth the potential complications.
The fight featuring Jose Canseco was not scheduled in Pennsylvania, which is the online service area of Barstool Sportsbook. It remains uncertain whether any other operators or physical sportsbooks accepted bets on the fight.
However, we can simplify all of the aforementioned information into clear and concise terms.
- The Canseco fight was organized and publicized by Barstool.
- Bets were placed on the fight at Barstool Sportsbook.
- For some undisclosed reason, the person who founded Barstool Sports and represents Barstool Sportsbook firmly asserts that Canseco intentionally threw the fight.
Regardless of whether bets on Canseco are refunded or not, this situation reflects poorly on regulated sports betting.
West Virginia appears to be focusing more closely on the fight, and Michigan should do the same.
