I’m going to throw an ugly possibility out there, but there are a LOT more legal online gambling resources out there now. And we have documented proof that some refs and players in the past have made the mistake of betting on games they are involved with. When you have such obviously blatant bad calls, something smells really bad.
And having a relative in the gambling/gaming industry for a number of years (legally) where he would be in a position to “know”, there is a lot more people than most of us would ever imagine involved in significant wagering that ARE in a position to influence the outcome of a contest.
As an example, let’s say you are a football official but love to the ponies. You are doing it via the back door using a bookie to keep in on the down low. And let’s say you’re terrible with horses and get underwater with this bookie. You don’t think the bookie might let you “even up” by making a few calls a certain way? Or know someone with influence enough to get a coach to “sit on“ a comfortable lead late in a game not to beat a spread?
And it doesn’t have to be horse racing. It could be back room Texas Hold’em or a number of different things.
Just like insider trading on Wall Street, this stuff happens. As a compulsive gambler with over 20 years of clean time under my belt, having spent many years in GA and as a sponsor, you would be surprised.