Friday Faceoff: In the wake of the latest sports gambling scandal, and an FBI investigation featuring Denver’s own Chauncey Billups involving an illegal poker operation, has legalized betting ruined sports as we knew it?

Kyle Fredrickson, Broncos beat reporter 

Answer: No 

Whatever happened to the virtue of personal responsibility? 

There are quite literally millions of people in the United States who responsibly (and legally) enjoy sports gambling as part of their experience as fans. Did the $20 buy-in for your fantasy football league ruin it for everyone this season? Of course not.  

There is no doubt recent headlines note the hidden dangers of sports gambling and illegal betting of all types. The FBI investigation into Chauncey Billups, which is centered around an illegal poker operation, NBA player Terry Rozier and others is a warning to everyone. Actions have consequences. 

College and professional athletes are held to a higher standard as members of a team. There is typically a sign in every pro locker room that specifically outlines how players are prohibited from sports betting and other illicit activities. They’re subject to many team rules to uphold the integrity of their game. 

Now, I’ll admit the oversaturation of television advertising for sports gambling makes me borderline nauseous. But that’s capitalism in action. Sports gambling is a multi-billion-dollar industry in the U.S. and leagues are tapping into that revenue — even if their coaches and players fall victim to negative side effects. Help is available for those with gambling addictions.

But it’s narrow-minded to say that legalized gambling has ruined sports. You have control over your experience as a fan. Make smart choices or wait for a knock from the FBI. 

It’s not a difficult choice.

Tyler King, college sports reporter

Answer: Yes

Don’t let the NBA fool you with the return of “Roundball Rock” on NBC broadcasts or reports that the giant Larry O’Brien trophy logo is returning to courts for the NBA Finals. The old era of sports is gone. Long gone.

Just about every facet of sports media these days is associated with gambling. ESPN has its own sportsbook. Just about every major professional team has a sports betting partner of some kind. Shoot, FanDuel even owns a network that broadcasts local games for dozens of teams across the country.

Just about everywhere you look on the internet, someone is trying to give you their favorite “same-game parlay” for the marquee game on national television that night.

Now, are we naive enough to believe this is all brand new? No. As Thursday’s FBI investigation and subsequent arrests showed, this has been an ongoing issue that has existed long before a large portion of the nation legalized sports betting. Over the last few decades, we’ve seen many of our favorite athletes suffer varying degrees of consequences for gambling addictions.

Nor am I naive enough to believe we can go back to the old ways. As Houston basketball coach Kelvin Sampson aptly put it this week at Big 12 media days, “The toothpaste is out of the tube.” 

But — even above the explosion of NIL in college sports —  I understand the amount of advertisements for sports betting being too much for some people. We live in a society of overconsumption, and gambling is the latest aspect to explode with very few guardrails. We’ll continue to learn about more high-profile sports figures involved in scams like this — while countless other lives will be ruined without their story being told.