Reds legend Pete Rose places hilarious bet as sports gambling becomes legal in Ohio

Cincinnati Reds legend Pete Rose placed the first legal sports bet in the history of the state of Ohio just after the clock struck midnight on Sunday.

After Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed it into law back in December, gambling on sports is now legal in the Buckeye State.

In 1989, Rose was permanently banned from the sport of baseball due to prior gambling while he played for and managed the Reds.

Reds legend Pete Rose places 1st legal bet in the state of Ohio.

Pete Rose placed his bet at the Hard Rock Casino in the wee-hours of Sunday morning. Rose, hilariously, bet on the Cincinnati Reds to win the World Series. If there's one positive thing you can say about Rose, it's that he's loyal to his hometown Reds.

Of course, that gamble is unlikely to pay off for The Hit King. The Redlegs are predicted by many to finish dead-last in the NL Central, and others would even argue that Cincinnati may put up the worst record in all of baseball.

The Reds have cleaned house in the last few years and are embracing a full-on rebuild during what may be Joey Votto's final season in a Cincinnati uniform. The Reds will have several first and second-year players fighting for roster spots during spring training.

Of course, one can never quite predict these types of things. If superstar prospect Elly De La Cruz makes his debut in 2023 and the pitching duo of Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo enjoy successful sophomore campaigns, perhaps the Cincinnati Reds can make some noise in 2023.

Pete Rose's latest public escapade has likely done little to help him find his way back into the good graces of MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, but Charlie Hustle knows all too well that his inclusion into the Baseball Hall of Fame is unlikely to ever become a reality.