Davis Questions Sports Betting's Role in Pro Sports

The Las Vegas Raiders owner voiced concerns about game integrity as leagues across North America contend with gambling controversies.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Gambling

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a single football player in silver and black mid-stride across a grass field, warm desert light behind. — Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis told CNBC Sports that he is not a fan of sports gambling, citing concerns about game integrity and prop bets. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis said he is not a fan of sports gambling, citing concerns about the integrity of games, particularly prop bets. He made the comments in an interview with CNBC Sports' Michael Ozanian.

Why it matters

Leagues across North America are grappling with player betting violations and investigations into possible game manipulation, raising questions about how sports betting is overseen. Davis said Las Vegas may be one of the few places where gambling concerns are manageable because of its regulatory oversight, while sports betting has expanded nationwide without an overarching mechanism ensuring it stays fair.

The Las Vegas Raiders and Las Vegas Aces both maintain partnerships with BetMGM. Davis credited MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle with influencing his decision to join the Aces ownership group.

The players

Mark Davis

Mark Davis is the owner of the Las Vegas Raiders NFL franchise and has been a prominent voice in the team's business and community dealings.

Michael Ozanian

Michael Ozanian is a CNBC Sports journalist who conducted the interview in which Davis shared his views on sports betting.

Bill Hornbuckle

Bill Hornbuckle is the CEO of MGM Resorts, whom Davis credited with influencing his decision to join the Las Vegas Aces ownership group.

The details

Davis made the remarks in an interview with CNBC Sports' Michael Ozanian, saying prop bets are a particular concern for game integrity. He argued that Las Vegas is probably the one place in the country where gambling concerns are safe because of its oversight, while sports betting has spread across the country without a comparable national safeguard.

Davis told CNBC Sports he is not a fan of sports gambling, in an interview held on a Thursday before November 5, 2026.

Legal Context

Sports betting expanded across the United States after the 2018 Supreme Court ruling in Murphy v. NCAA struck down the federal ban, leaving oversight largely to individual states. Davis's comments reflect the tension between that state-level patchwork and the integrity concerns now confronting professional leagues.

Residents and visitors in Las Vegas live alongside a sports betting industry that is central to the local economy and its major sports franchises. Davis's remarks may shape how fans in the city view betting partnerships tied to the Raiders and Aces.

The takeaway

Fans who place sports wagers should understand that oversight varies by state and that leagues are actively working to protect game integrity. Staying informed about how a team's own partnerships are structured can help readers make more educated decisions.