Interesting allegations. Mark Seidel's (North American Central Scouting Independent Bureau) draft day predictions , discussed on our 2024 Draft thread, are under scrutiny.
These guys reps are taking big hits whether true or not.
Not sure how the gambling bit works, though it’s definitely not a good look. Not sure there are any books that would still be open 2 minutes before each pick, but I am not too sure on how things would work in Vegas. Definitely wouldn’t work for online sports books. But if you have inside info and books or betting is still open, you can make a fortune.
We essentially know now that everything Seidel said was accurate, which means Beaudin was a real option, between him getting the info first hand from the draft floor and him having the position he does with Barrie.
Reps are definitely taking a hit, though to be fair Seidel has always mentioned that he’s hearing that stuff from the draft, we just didn’t know who he was hearing things from. But phrasing it as “I’ve heard xxx team likes xxx” when you’ve really just been told who is being picked is pretty shady.
Gambling bit definitely plays a gigantic part nowadays, a guy like Marek can’t be giving sure thing info like that out when you can legitimately make a fortune betting on this stuff. I’m sure the draft happening in Vegas magnified things, that probably wouldn’t be looked at had the draft been anywhere else
Sennecke essentially being broadcast as being taken 3rd two-ish hours before the draft was a much bigger issue, and I’m sure Vegas was extremely upset at that info being broadcast for the few minutes people were able to rush and get sure thing odds at +450 on sports books before the odds were adjusted and closed an hour before.
To be clear, I don't think Marek or Seidel did anything wrong as long as neither were gambling, or using that info to gamble or help others. The draft being in Vegas, and the Nevada Gambling commision, had a hand in it I would think, especially with gambling happening up until an hour before on sportsbooks.
When the NFL held their draft in Vegas 2 years ago, there was no betting on the draft the entire draft weekend. It closed 5pm the day before the draft in Vegas.