Ohio Adds Bettor to Exclusion List After Alleged Threats Against Blue Jays Manager During 2025 World Series
Blake Morgan of Ohio was placed on the Sports Gaming Involuntary Exclusion List on October 21 after a 14-minute rant threatening Blue Jays manager John Schneider during the 2025 World Series. MLB traced the call and issued its own ban. The case reflects a documented surge in threats to players since sports betting expanded in 2018.
SCCG Take — Regulators are applying exclusion tools to protect participants from bettor threats tied to on-field decisions. Sportsbooks must strengthen monitoring of high-stakes complaints to avoid similar escalations.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission voted on October 21 to place Blake Morgan of Thornville on the state's Sports Gaming Involuntary Exclusion List. The move bars Morgan from all legal gambling activities in Ohio after he allegedly threatened Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider during a call to Major League Baseball.
Morgan launched a 14-minute rant tied to Game 4 of the 2025 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He objected to Schneider pitching to Shohei Ohtani instead of issuing an intentional walk and accused the manager of match-fixing.
Details of the Call and Immediate Aftermath
"That was a gambling grab. This game is not legit," Morgan said according to the account reported by Casino.org News. He suggested Schneider and family members profited from betting action on the decision, though no evidence supports the claims.
Morgan then allegedly demanded whether he needed to attend a game and "knock the dude’s f—in’ head off right now on live TV so everyone can see that." He claimed to hold Schneider's home address and warned that members of the public would act if Major League Baseball did not intervene.
Investigators traced the call to Morgan. He initially admitted making the call while angry but denied any plan to travel or act on the threat. Major League Baseball banned him indefinitely from stadiums and events two days later. Morgan later changed his account to claim a visitor used his phone. He requested but did not attend a hearing before Ohio regulators in June.
Surge in Threats Prompts Earlier State Action
David Thomas, MLB security chief, told Ohio regulators that threats against players, coaches and families have surged since states began legalizing sports betting in 2018. In September six major sports leagues called for stricter measures against abusive bettors. Ohio introduced the first specific regulatory powers targeting such behavior in 2023.
Morgan denies making the threats. It remains unclear whether criminal charges will be filed.
The exclusion underscores how regulators now deploy involuntary lists to address conduct linked directly to betting disputes.
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