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The main event of Rough N’ Rowdy last Friday was far from what was expected.
Allegedly earning over $1 million, Jose Canseco was defeated by a Barstool Sports intern in a quick match lasting approximately twelve seconds during the recent celebrity boxing event.
Later on, the promoter, who also represents a regulated sports betting operator in Michigan that participated in the event, alleged that Canseco intentionally lost the fight.
No Michigan bettors experienced any losses during this event.
However, the chairman of the West Virginia state commission informed Playinmichigan that they are currently conducting an investigation into the aforementioned events and have not yet made a decision regarding the possibility of sanctioning future Rough N’ Rowdy cards.
As talks about upcoming celebrity fights continue to circulate at Barstool, it is essential to reflect on the peculiar occasion and question whether Michigan bettors should participate in future events.
Stay updated on the current status of Jose Canseco in West Virginia by following the ongoing story here.
Jose Canseco fight lasted shorter than a roulette spin
In the Rough N’ Rowdy 13 main event held in Charles Town, W.V., a 56-year-old former baseball star, Canseco, stepped into the ring to face off against “Billy Football,” an intern from Barstool.
The event took place at Hollywood Casino, which is under the ownership of Penn National Gaming. The collaboration between Rough N’ Rowdy and Barstool, a property of Penn National Gaming, was a seamless match since Penn holds a 36% stake in Barstool, serving as its online gambling partner.
In preparation for the event, Canseco and Billy Football engaged in a social media feud, while Stoolies worldwide were required to pay a $20 streaming fee to watch.
Everything was going perfectly, benefiting everyone involved, until the night of the fight.
Initially, Canseco aggressively pursued his 22-year-old adversary, attempting to engage him closely and grappling with him amidst a barrage of strikes. Ultimately, Canseco found himself tumbling in the corner and subsequently decided to concede the fight.
Michigan bettors were in on the action
On January 22, Michigan sports betting was officially launched, and among the initial group of 10 operators, the Barstool Sportsbook was proudly part of the lineup.
Recently, Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool, along with others, has been dedicating their time to promote the brand in Michigan. They are doing this through a partnership with Greektown Casino, a Penn property located in Detroit.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board has granted approval for betting on sanctioned fights, including professional boxing matches organized by the IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO, as well as fights approved by state athletic commissions.
Mary Kay Bean, spokesperson for the MGCB, acknowledged that Rough N’ Rowdy 13 had received official sanctioning from the State Athletic Commission in West Virginia.
The chairman of the commission, Leon Ramsey, stated that there is an ongoing investigation into the match. The sanctioning of Rough ‘N Rowdy cards occurs on a per-event basis, and there are currently no future dates scheduled. The commission, consisting of individuals appointed by the governor, will evaluate upcoming events as they are submitted for review.
According to Ramsey, the deadline for submitting sanctioning applications is 30 days after the event, and he anticipates that the investigation will take a few weeks to conclude.
He expressed his belief that everyone had anticipated a more impressive battle, only to be met with a situation like this. He acknowledged that there was a need for additional investigation.
Rough N’ Rowdy wasn’t always a Barstool brand
Before it caught Barstool’s attention, Rough N’ Rowdy had already established itself as a long-standing tradition in small-town West Virginia.
In 2017, the Washington Post featured a yearly gathering in the “forgotten town” of Welch, located in rural West Virginia. This event involved untrained individuals engaging in fights against fellow town residents, occasionally even facing off against childhood friends.
The first weekend of March transformed into a vibrant Welch festival, resembling a lively county fair, as crowds enthusiastically cheered for their beloved ring girl.
In the latter part of 2017, Barstool acquired the entity and transformed it into a pay-per-view spectacle, infused with their distinctive style.
Portnoy: Canseco received over $1 million on the fight
Unsurprisingly, Portnoy further escalated the controversy afterwards.
Portnoy revealed that Jose Canseco’s earnings from the event surpassed $1 million, setting a new record for pay-per-view purchases.
Portnoy tweeted, “Jose definitely faked his fall. We handed over half the payment in advance, with the promise of double if he emerged victorious. Our intention was to guarantee his participation in the fight, but unfortunately, we misjudged the situation.”
Michigan bettors were refunded losing Jose Canseco bets
Barstool Sportsbook recently launched a betting market featuring Jose Canseco and Billy Football, offering +400 odds for each of them to win on a maximum $10 bet. Portnoy, the founder, also revealed that any proceeds from unsuccessful bets would be donated to The Barstool Fund. This fund aims to support small businesses facing hardships amid the ongoing pandemic.
Following the altercation, Barstool Sportsbook settled the Billy Football wagers and invalidated the Canseco bets, issuing a $10 reimbursement to its patrons.
The $20 pay-per-view did not receive any refund.
In a statement to Playinmichigan, Jeff Morris, speaking on behalf of PNG, referred to the wager as a “promotional” one. He highlighted that despite the cancellation of the Canseco bets, the sum of money placed on the ex-Oakland A’s player was ultimately donated to The Barstool Fund.
Morris stated that after the title fight ended, it seemed that the losing fighter was either injured or did not compete sincerely. However, regardless of the circumstances, the Barstool Sportsbook decided that the initial grading of the bet was unsuitable. Consequently, they promptly nullified all losing bets, paid out the winning ones, 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 many years to approve sports betting.
Online sports betting was launched 13 months after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed expanded gambling laws in December 2019.
While it is understandable that some delays were necessary to ensure legal compliance and maintain a reputable image, raising concerns about the industry’s legitimacy is the last thing it needs. Operators and decision-makers should carefully consider whether the revenue generated from gimmick events outweighs the potential troubles they may bring.
The fight featuring Jose Canseco was not scheduled to take place in Pennsylvania, the state where Barstool Sportsbook operates its online services. It remains uncertain whether any other operators or physical sportsbooks accepted bets on the fight.
However, let’s simplify all of the aforementioned information into easily understandable terms:
- Canseco fight was organized and endorsed by Barstool.
- Bets were placed on the fight at Barstool Sportsbook.
- For some unknown motive, the individual who established Barstool Sports and represents Barstool Sportsbook strongly claimed 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 inclined to examine the fight with greater scrutiny, and it would be prudent for Michigan to do the same.
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