Pete Rose, Who Has A Lifetime MLB Ban For Betting, Places First Legal Sports Bet In Ohio

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Sports betting officially became legal in the state of Ohio on January 1, 2023. To celebrate the monumental occasion, the Buckeye state called on none other than Pete Rose to place the first legal sports wager in state history.

Rose placed the bet at the Hard Rock Casino in Cincinnati placing a wager on the Cincinnati Reds to win the 2023 World Series.

After placing his bet, Rose said "I don't know a damn thing about odds. Go Reds, Go Bengals."

That quote, and Rose placing the first wager in the state's history, is ironic given the fact that he was handed a lifetime ban by MLB for betting on games which he managed.

A 1989 investigation found that Rose bet on at least 50 Reds games in 1987 alone at a minimum of $10,000 per day.

ROB MANFRED & MLB, MAKING OVER $1 BILLION ON SPORTS BETTING, NOT BUDGING ON PETE ROSE BAN

Rose continuously denied the investigations findings and all accusations, but ultimately admitted to placing wagers in 2004.

As for Rose's bet on the Reds to win the World Series next year, well, that's a long shot, to put it lightly. The Reds went 62-100 last season, which was good enough for the third-worst record in all of baseball.

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Mark covers all sports at OutKick while keeping a close eye on the world of professional golf. He graduated from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga before earning his master's degree in journalism from the University of Tennessee. He somehow survived living in Knoxville despite ‘Rocky Top’ being his least favorite song ever written. Before joining OutKick, he wrote for various outlets including SB Nation, The Spun, and BroBible. Mark was also a writer for the Chicago Cubs Double-A affiliate in 2016 when the team won the World Series. He's still waiting for his championship ring to arrive. Follow him on Twitter @itismarkharris.