Key Events in Sports Gambling Scandals Since Legalization

On May 14, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated the federal ban on sports betting by striking down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). This pivotal decision paved the way for individual states to legalize and regulate sports gambling, merging two major American interests: sports and betting.

Since then, 39 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, have launched legal betting markets, processing over $330 billion in wagers. This rapid growth in the legal market, coupled with league partnerships with betting companies, has unfortunately coincided with a significant increase in gambling-related controversies across professional and collegiate sports.

In recent years, numerous athletes, coaches, and staff have been suspended or fired for violating gambling policies. Investigations into suspicious betting activity have led to lifetime bans, criminal charges, and pleas of guilt. Incidents range from players betting on games they participated in to staff members stealing vast sums to cover gambling debts. While sports leagues and the betting industry argue that the legal framework helps detect anomalies, violations, including those involving participants betting on their own sports, continue to surface. The persistent presence of illegal betting markets, as highlighted by the case involving former interpreter for Shohei Ohtani, Ippei Mizuhara, also adds complexity to the landscape. As the U.S. betting market potentially expands further into large states like California and Texas, it is widely anticipated that more controversies will arise.

Timeline of Sports Gambling Scandals

2018

May 14, 2018: Supreme Court Legalizes Sports Betting

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The U.S. Supreme Court rules 6-3 to overturn PASPA, the 1992 law that had largely confined legal sports betting to Nevada. This landmark decision allows individual states to authorize sports gambling, opening the door for a nationwide expansion of the market.

2019

November 29, 2019: NFL Player Josh Shaw Suspended

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Josh Shaw becomes the first active NFL player suspended for betting on league games. While on injured reserve for the Arizona Cardinals, he placed bets at a Las Vegas sportsbook, including bets against his own team as part of a parlay. He receives an indefinite suspension.

2020

September 8, 2020: University of Colorado Sports Betting Sponsorship

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The University of Colorado enters a five-year sponsorship agreement with Denver-based PointsBet. This deal permits the sports betting company to advertise at Colorado`s football stadium and basketball arena, as well as through other media channels.

2021

May 26, 2021: First Sportsbook Opens in a Pro Arena

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Capital One Arena in Washington D.C., home to the Wizards, Mystics, and Capitals, becomes the first professional sports arena in the United States to feature a fully operational retail sportsbook, under a lease agreement with William Hill Sportsbook.

October 8, 2021: MLS Player Felipe Hernandez Suspended

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An independent investigation reveals Sporting Kansas City player Felipe Hernandez engaged in “extensive and unlawful sports gambling,” including betting on MLS games. He is suspended. Hernandez had previously informed the team of his gambling issues and concerns for his safety due to debts.

2022

March 7, 2022: NFL Player Calvin Ridley Suspended

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Atlanta Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley is suspended for the entire 2022 NFL season after gambling on games during a five-day period in November 2021 while on the non-football injury list. His bets included parlays that involved the Falcons winning. He is reinstated in March 2023.

December 23, 2022: NFL Coach Miles Austin Suspended

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New York Jets wide receiver coach Miles Austin receives a minimum one-year suspension for violating the NFL`s gambling policy. An investigation found he gambled on sports, though not NFL games or college football, which is still prohibited for league personnel.

2023

January 19, 2023: UFC Enhances Gambling Rules and Monitoring

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Following investigations into suspicious betting activity on a specific fight, the UFC strengthens its fight code of conduct regarding wagering and hires U.S. Integrity, a firm specializing in monitoring sports betting markets.

March 29, 2023: Colorado and PointsBet End Partnership Early

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The University of Colorado and PointsBet jointly announce the early termination of their sponsorship deal, three years into the five-year agreement. This decision aligns with revised guidelines from the American Gaming Association discouraging partnerships between sportsbooks and colleges.

April 21, 2023: Multiple NFL Players Suspended for Gambling

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Five NFL players are suspended for gambling violations. Quintez Cephus, C.J. Moore, and Shaka Toney receive indefinite suspensions for betting on NFL games. Jameson Williams and Stanley Berryhill are suspended for six games for mobile betting on non-NFL sports from a team facility.

May 4, 2023: Alabama Baseball Coach Fired Amid Betting Scandal

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Alabama head baseball coach Brad Bohannon is fired after suspicious betting activity is detected on a game between Alabama and LSU, leading Ohio regulators to halt betting on college baseball involving Alabama. Federal prosecutors later allege a businessman bet against the Crimson Tide after communicating with Bohannon.

May 8, 2023: Iowa and Iowa State Gambling Investigation Begins

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Investigations are launched at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University into potential NCAA gambling violations involving over 36 athletes and an athletic department employee across multiple sports, including baseball, football, and basketball.

June 29, 2023: NFL Suspends Four More Players

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The NFL suspends three Indianapolis Colts players (Isaiah Rodgers Sr., Rashod Berry) and one free agent (Demetrius Taylor) through at least the 2023 season for betting on NFL games in 2022. Rodgers states he placed bets for other individuals.

September 29, 2023: NFL Modifies Gambling Policy

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The NFL revises its gambling policy to introduce stricter penalties: a minimum two-year suspension for betting on one`s own team, a one-year suspension for betting on other NFL games, and escalating penalties for betting on non-NFL sports from team facilities (2 games, 6 games, 1+ year). Jameson Williams is reinstated under the updated policy.

October 26, 2023: NHL Player Shane Pinto Suspended

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Ottawa Senators center Shane Pinto is suspended for 41 games for violating the NHL`s sports wagering policy. Reports indicate unusual activity was flagged on his online gambling account, though the specific nature of the violation remains undisclosed publicly.

October 27, 2023: Korn Ferry Tour Golfers Suspended

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Vince India and Jake Staiano, golfers on the PGA Tour`s developmental Korn Ferry Tour, are suspended for three and six months respectively for placing bets on PGA Tour competitions. They did not wager on events in which they personally competed.

2024

January 25, 2024: NFL Player Kayshon Boutte Arrested Over College Betting

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New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte is arrested in Louisiana on charges related to illegal sports betting while he was a student at LSU. Charges include computer fraud and gambling prohibition for individuals under 21, with allegations he used an alias to bypass age restrictions.

March 8, 2024: Temple Basketball Game Under Review for Unusual Betting

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Sports integrity watchdog U.S. Integrity flags unusual betting activity on a Temple men`s basketball game, prompting several sportsbooks, including Caesars and FanDuel, to halt betting on the contest.

March 12, 2024: Ex-Jaguars Employee Sentenced for Theft to Fund Betting

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Amit Patel, a former Jacksonville Jaguars employee, is sentenced to 6.5 years in prison after pleading guilty to stealing $22 million from the team. He transferred approximately $21 million of the stolen funds to online sports betting platforms like FanDuel and DraftKings.

March 20, 2024: Shohei Ohtani`s Interpreter Fired Amid Gambling Allegations

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Ippei Mizuhara, the longtime interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, is fired following reports of large wire transfers ($4.5M+) from Ohtani`s bank account to an illegal bookmaking operation under federal investigation. Initial reports suggested Ohtani sent the money to cover Mizuhara`s gambling debts, a claim later disputed.

March 25, 2024: NBA Investigates Jontay Porter for Betting Issues

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The NBA launches an investigation into Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter concerning potential violations related to prop bets involving his own games on January 26 and March 20, following reports of unusual betting patterns.

March 27, 2024: NCAA President Calls for Ban on College Prop Bets

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NCAA President Charlie Baker publicly advocates for banning college sports prop bets across all states to safeguard game integrity and protect student-athletes from harassment related to individual performance wagering.

April 11, 2024: Mizuhara Federally Charged, Ohtani Deemed Victim

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Federal prosecutors file a complaint charging Ippei Mizuhara with bank fraud, alleging he stole over $16 million from Shohei Ohtani`s bank account to fund his gambling. Prosecutors state Ohtani is considered a victim in this case, not a suspect.

April 17, 2024: NBA Bans Jontay Porter for Life

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The NBA announces a lifetime ban for Jontay Porter. The league`s investigation concludes that Porter violated rules by disclosing confidential information to bettors, limiting his participation in games for betting purposes, and betting on NBA games himself while in the G League.

June 3, 2024: MLB Player Tucupita Marcano Faces Potential Lifetime Ban

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San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano is reported to be facing a potential lifetime ban from Major League Baseball for betting on baseball games, including those involving his former team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, from the previous season.

June 4, 2024: Marcano Banned, Four Others Suspended by MLB

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MLB permanently bans Tucupita Marcano for violating sports betting rules. Additionally, four minor league players (Michael Kelly, Jay Groome, José Rodríguez, Andrew Saalfrank) are suspended for one year for similar violations.

June 14, 2024: MLB Umpire Disciplined for Gambling Rules Violation

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MLB disciplines umpire Pat Hoberg for violating the league`s gambling rules. The nature of the violation and discipline is not fully disclosed. Hoberg denies betting on baseball and is appealing the decision; he has not umpired a game during the current season.

August 15, 2024: Notre Dame Swim Team Suspended

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The Notre Dame men`s swim team program is suspended for at least one year following an external review that found team members violated NCAA rules by wagering on the results of their own competitions, reportedly via an internal team sportsbook. They did not bet against themselves or on other Notre Dame events.

2025

January 30, 2025: Federal Probe Eyes Terry Rozier`s Play

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Federal investigators are reportedly examining unusual betting patterns related to the performance of former Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier (now with Miami Heat) in a 2023 game, as part of the broader investigation linked to Jontay Porter. Rozier has not been accused of wrongdoing.

February 22, 2025: Fresno State Investigates Betting Allegations

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Fresno State and the NCAA investigate allegations that two men`s basketball players participated in daily fantasy sports contests based on their own performance, including betting on the “under” for their statistics. A third player is also held out amid allegations of betting on professional sports.

June 29, 2025: Malik Beasley Reportedly Under Federal Gambling Investigation

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Federal authorities are reportedly investigating Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley regarding alleged gambling activity related to NBA games and prop bets from the 2023-24 season while he was with the Milwaukee Bucks. Unusual betting interest on his rebound statistics was noted in one game. He has not been charged with any crime.