Shawn Lemon's indefinite CFL ban reveals hidden cost of pro leagues going all in on legalized betting

Wednesday morning the Canadian Football League announced that an independent arbitrator had upheld an indefinite suspension the league had handed to Shawn Lemon, the Montreal Alouettes defensive end sanctioned last off-season for betting on CFL games.

An investigation found Lemon had placed several CFL wagers in 2021, including one on his own team, the Calgary Stampeders. Lemon appealed the original ruling, and was permitted to suit up for Montreal while his case was pending. The league hasn't given any hints about when it might reinstate Lemon, a veteran who is the definition of a pro football journeyman. He has played for every CFL team except Hamilton, has done stints with three Arena League teams, and attended training camp with the Steelers and 49ers of the NFL.

But the reliable pass rusher turned 36 this past Sunday. At his age, an indefinite suspension could equal a lifetime ban. We can read Lemon's pre-season appeal as one more longshot gamble, and the brief reprieve as the closest he'll come to a win.

Lemon, in contrast, managed to play four games before July 4, when his suspension first took effect. His appeal was heard in early August and the results made public Wednesday. The arbitrator's ruling, then, takes us right back to where we were in April, when the CFL first sanctioned Lemon. It's the same place we figured we'd end up when pro leagues across the continent went all in on legalized single-game betting.

Gambling outfits reportedly spend more than $1 billion US annually sponsoring major North American sports leagues, so the numbers make it clear: embracing legal sports betting represents a massive opportunity for sports leagues eager for new revenue streams. But who bears the opportunity cost in this