Houston Astros, MLB Sued By DFS Players For Cheating Scandal

• Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) players are suing the Houston Astros for cheating in 2017.
• The team has admitted to stealing pitching signs from their competition with the use of cameras.
• The DFS players are looking for restitution for their losses that were impacted by the cheating of the Astros.

HOUSTON – The MLB along with the MLB’s very own Houston Astros, have been hit with a class-action lawsuit by players of daily fantasy sports (DFS). The case stems from the 2017 season when the Astros were accused of cheating by knowing the hand signals for the pitchers of opposing teams.

The organization used a number of cameras to shoot the pitching teams of their competition in order to know what pitch style would be thrown next. This not only affected those betting on the MLB games involving the Astros, but DFS players betting on individual players.

The Case Against The Astros

If history proves to play any role in what happens with this case, the Astros will be found innocent of any wrongdoing. Cases brought to the courts by gamblers of sporting events against an organization tend to be thrown out, if not, be in favor of the organization as bettors are engaging in gambling which in itself is never a sure thing.

“Those who gamble do so on their own volition and assume the risks associated with games of chance,” said Don E N Gibson, sports law and business professor at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law to Law 360.

“Also, the leagues do not manage or control the gambling activity. So it would be extremely difficult to prevail on a claim that what happens on the field is linked with the gambling activity.”

But the reason why this case could prove different is that there is legitimate evidence of the Astros stealing the pitching signs of other teams. Many of the players as well as others that are affiliated with the team have commented on the situation and they all are aware that there is no way to lie about it as it did actually happen. This one could play out in the favor of the DFS plaintiffs.

The Houston Astros have been fined $5 million by the MLB and had to give up both their first and second-round draft picks because of the scandal. Owner Jim Crane maintains that the camera use in no way impacted the game, the Astros just had a good team that won the World Series.

As for the case, the investigation is ongoing. This may be one that goes in favor of the DFS players. The evidence is there and the Houston Astros have owned up to what they did. Now it’s up to the courts to decide.

News tags: Daily Fantasy Sports | Houston Astros | Jim Crane | MLB