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Signs welcoming Indiana Fever's new player Caitlin Clark, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Basketball double whammy: Gender pay gap and betting scandals
It’s been a big week for professional basketball leagues catching heat. Fans were outraged to learn that college basketball legend and all-time NCAA top-scorer and top WNBA draft pick Caitlin Clarkwill earn a meager $338,056 over four years with the Indiana Fever.
That means, Clark’s earnings will be less than 1% of the 2023 NBA top draft pick, Victor Wembanyama’s $55 million deal. It’s even lower – much lower– than some NBA mascots.
Sure, Clark is set to make $3 million in ad deals, but the gender pay gap point remains, particularly as the league continues to grow. The WNBA draws fewer attendees, television viewers, and broadcast rights revenue, which means its players have a weaker collective bargaining agreement. But with a star like Clark – who is already helping set WNBA viewership records – that balance may begin to shift thanks to a one-woman rising tide that will lift other boats.
But Clark’s pay wasn’t the only pro basketball scandal. This week, Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porterwas banned from the NBA after an investigation found him guilty of colluding with sports bettors. He was, according to the ruling, providing information to them and betting on games, including against his own team, and “limiting his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes.”
While Clark’s contract called attention to gender-based pay discrepancies, Porter’s ouster has raised questions about player’s involvement in betting scandals (and sponsorship deals with gaming outlets) – something that has become more common following the 2018 US Supreme Court’s decision to strike down federal laws against betting on professional sports. With a bigger pool of bettors offering more opportunities for such insider betting scandals, could it be time for the legal ban – or at least limits – to rebound?Burger chain owner hailed as hero after exposing corruption racket in Selangor
KUALA LUMPUR- The owner of a roadside burger chain has been hailed a hero for releasing two videos to allege Malaysian police and city council officers were "protecting" gambling-machine syndicates and foreign migrants selling contraband cigarettes in a Selangor township where he operates one of his stalls.
Vietnam police bust $1b illegal online gambling ring
HANOI (AFP) - Police in Vietnam broke up an online gambling ring that had handled more than US$1 billion (S$1.36 billion) in bets and arrested 22 people, reports said Saturday (April 27), in what is believed to be the largest-ever internet betting operation in the communist country.
Japan rolls dice on S'pore-style IRs
The operators of Singapore's two integrated resorts (IRs), which this month injected $9 billion in fresh investment, are also itching to place their bets on Japan in the race to enter the world's largest untapped casino gambling market.
With Japan set to build three integrated resorts, operators cast eyes on potential $33.8 million casino market
TOKYO - The operators of Singapore's two integrated resorts (IRs), which this month injected $9 billion in fresh investment, are also itching to place their bets on Japan in the race to enter the world's largest untapped casino gambling market.
IRs' $9b investment will help Singapore stay ahead of rivals: Analysts
The new $9 billion investment in Singapore's two integrated resorts (IRs), announced this week, will cement their appeal amid stiffening regional competition for a slice of the pie, analysts said.
Aussie wins same lottery twice - bags $44m
MELBOURNE • A Melbourne man has won more than A$46 million (S$44.2 million) after winning the same lottery twice, Australian media reported.