Sports and gambling have always shared a complicated relationship. From the smoky backrooms of the early 20th century to today’s sleek mobile betting apps, wagering on games has been both a source of entertainment and a threat to the integrity of competition. In recent years, the legalization and mainstreaming of sports betting in the United States has brought billions in revenue—but also a wave of scandals that remind us of the risks when athletes, coaches, and insiders cross the line.
The past two years have seen an unprecedented number of gambling-related controversies across the NBA, MLB, and NCAA. The most explosive of these is the NBA gambling ring exposed in October 2025, which implicated household names like Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former player Damon Jones. But the NBA case is only one chapter in a broader story of sports leagues grappling with the consequences of betting’s rapid expansion.
The NBA’s Mafia-Backed Gambling Ring
In October 2025, the FBI and New York prosecutors announced indictments against 34 individuals tied to illegal sports betting and rigged poker games. Among them were Billups, Rozier, and Jones—figures with deep ties to the league.
- The Scheme: Prosecutors allege that insiders used private locker room and medical information to place bets and manipulate outcomes. Rozier, for example, was accused of leaking details about his physical condition, including plans to exit a game early, so associates could profit from prop bets.
- Organized Crime Links: The operation was reportedly backed by Mafia-connected gambling networks, echoing scandals from decades past.
- Fallout: Billups was placed on leave, Rozier suspended without pay, and Jones charged with wire fraud and money laundering. The NBA demanded cell phones and records from multiple teams as part of its internal probe.
The scandal has shaken fan confidence. As one U.S. attorney put it, “The defendants turned professional basketball into a criminal betting operation”. For a league that has embraced partnerships with sportsbooks, the optics are devastating.
Major League Baseball: Pitch-Level Manipulation
The NBA wasn’t alone. In November 2025, federal authorities indicted Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz for allegedly accepting bribes to manipulate specific pitches.
- Bettors reportedly profited by wagering on micro-prop bets (such as whether a pitch would be a strike or ball).
- The scheme generated hundreds of thousands of dollars, forcing sportsbooks to impose emergency limits on pitch-level wagers.
This case highlights how prop bets—wagers on granular in-game events—create vulnerabilities. Unlike betting on a game’s outcome, microbets can be influenced by a single player’s decision, making them ripe for exploitation.
College Basketball: Point-Shaving Returns
The NCAA has also faced a wave of scandals. In September 2025, the association revealed that 13 former players across six schools were involved in gambling schemes, including betting against their own teams.
- Cedquavious Hunter, a former University of New Orleans guard, admitted on national television: “I did point-shave”. He described intentionally missing shots to affect spreads, saying the scheme succeeded “95% of the time.”
- In November, the NCAA banned six players for life after uncovering game manipulation and insider tips.
- Temple guard Hysier Miller was stripped of eligibility after investigators found he bet against his own team in 39 parlays.
These revelations echo infamous point-shaving scandals of the past, proving that despite modern oversight, the temptation of “fast cash” still lures athletes.
Why Are We Seeing So Many Scandals Now?
Several factors converge to explain the surge:
- Legalization of Sports Betting (2018): The Supreme Court’s repeal of PASPA opened the floodgates. By 2025, 39 states had legal betting markets, with over $330 billion wagered.
- Prop Bets & Microbets: These wagers on specific plays or player stats are harder to monitor and easier to manipulate.
- Insider Information: Athletes and coaches have access to injury details, lineup changes, and locker room dynamics—information that can swing betting markets.
- Cultural Normalization: With constant sportsbook ads during broadcasts, gambling is no longer taboo. For young athletes, betting apps are as accessible as social media.
As Yahoo Sports noted, legalization didn’t create corruption—it exposed it. Oversight mechanisms now catch schemes that might have thrived in the shadows before.
The Human Cost: Careers and Reputations
The scandals have left a trail of ruined careers:
- Chauncey Billups, once celebrated as “Mr. Big Shot,” now faces federal charges and a tarnished legacy.
- Terry Rozier, a key Heat guard, is suspended and under indictment.
- Cedquavious Hunter admitted his role publicly, likely ending any professional aspirations.
- College athletes like Miller lost eligibility, derailing futures before they began.
Even those not directly implicated feel the ripple effects. LeBron James, for instance, distanced himself from Damon Jones after reports that Jones shared sensitive details about him.
League Responses: Crisis Management
- NBA: Expanded its investigation, demanded phones and records, and faces congressional scrutiny.
- MLB: Imposed emergency limits on pitch-level bets and pledged stricter oversight.
- NCAA: Reversed a rule that would have allowed athletes to bet on pro sports, banning implicated players for life.
- NHL: Commissioner Gary Bettman defended the league’s integrity while exploring partnerships with prediction markets for better oversight.
These moves show leagues scrambling to balance the lucrative betting industry with the need to protect competitive integrity.
Broader Implications: Integrity vs. Profit
The scandals raise uncomfortable questions:
- Can leagues partner with sportsbooks while policing insider betting?
- Should prop bets be banned? The NBA has already eliminated certain microbets.
- What role should Congress play? Lawmakers are investigating, signaling possible federal regulation.
At stake is not just money, but trust. Fans must believe games are fair. If outcomes are manipulated, the very foundation of sports collapses.
Conclusion: A Reckoning for Sports Gambling
The recent scandals—from the NBA’s Mafia-backed ring to MLB’s pitch manipulation and NCAA point-shaving—underscore a truth: where money flows, corruption follows. Legalization has brought transparency, but also new temptations.
Leagues now face a reckoning. They must decide whether the billions earned from betting partnerships are worth the risk of eroding fan trust. As scandals pile up, one thing is clear: the house may always win, but if athletes keep betting against their own integrity, everyone else loses.
