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Honor and integrity are critical to all levels of sports. Otherwise, it’s harder for fans and athletes to believe in the league’s fairness. Unfortunately, some individuals have crossed the line by choosing gambling. Here are the 10 worst sports betting scandals in history.
10. The New York Mutuals
Sports betting goes back centuries, way before you could download an app. Take a trip to 1865, just after the Civil War ended. Organized baseball was finding its roots, and it wouldn’t be long before Major League Baseball would begin. However, one of the first sports betting scandals rocked the young baseball world.
The New York Mutuals were the Big Apple’s premier baseball club in the early days. Unfortunately, some of their guys got into trouble. Reportedly, the team had three players conspire with gamblers to throw games to the Brooklyn Eckfords. Ultimately, their actions led to a ban.
9. Jontay Porter
Sports betting brings enough controversy on its own. However, player involvement makes situations even stickier. Jontay Porter learned his lesson the hard way, as the NBA banned him for life in 2024. The former Toronto Raptor disclosed information to bettors, who spent thousands on their parlays.
The problem goes beyond Porter’s conversations with gamblers. As it turns out, he was limiting his own participation to satisfy betting outcomes. For example, in March 2024, he played just three minutes before returning to the bench. He said he was sick, but he intentionally underperformed in the game.
8. College Basketball Point-Shaving (1951)
City College of New York (CCNY) was on top of the basketball world in 1950. The team achieved the rare feat of winning the NCAA Tournament and the National Invitation Tournament in the same year. However, the championships have been overshadowed by sports gambling. Plus, it was happening on one of basketball’s biggest stages.
As it turns out, there was widespread gambling occurring in New York City. Some of the fixed games even occurred at Madison Square Garden, a storied basketball venue. Reportedly, some team members accepted money to fix games during the regular season. Ultimately, CCNY suspended the basketball program.
7. College Basketball Point-Shaving (2023)
College basketball has grown into a top sport, thanks to athletes like Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Plum. That said, the sports betting scandals have only grown with the TV deals. Recently, the Department of Justice arrested 26 people connected to bribery and a point-shaving scheme.
Allegedly, the fixers reached out to college basketball players to influence games after being bribed. For example, they’d pay thousands of dollars to have these athletes influence outcomes. They may ask the players to ensure their team doesn’t cover the spread. If the result was successful, then those players received cash.
6. Tulane University
John “Hot Rod” Williams spent nearly 15 years in the NBA and had a decent career. However, any chance of a memorable tenure was ruined before it even began, thanks to a point-shaving scandal. Williams and multiple Tulane University players were arrested in 1985 on charges of violating Louisiana law.
The players received about $40,000 to point-shave two games. It’s among the worst sports betting scandals because it reportedly included drugs. A Tulane fraternity member was arrested for distributing cocaine to the players. Reportedly, he gave the substance to the players to try and befriend them.
5. Pete Rose
Pete Rose was undoubtedly a fantastic baseball player. The Cincinnati Reds legend has the most hits ever, beating out guys like Ty Cobb and Hank Aaron. That said, he has a significant stain on his baseball career. Nicknamed Charlie Hustle, he gambled on professional baseball and lost out on the Hall of Fame.
The story begins in 1989, when Rose was managing the Cincinnati Reds. Apparently, a restaurant owner ran bets for him, with allegations that Rose signaled bets from the dugout. The baseball legend denied the sports gambling allegations for decades, though he signed an agreement to ban him from MLB.
4. Damon Jones
Damon Jones, Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier were indicted on federal charges. Their arrests last fall marked one of the most shocking sports betting scandals in recent memory. Jones’ arrest stands out because he leaked non-public information about players. Considering he was a Lakers assistant, that could’ve included information on LeBron James.
The public is still learning about the Damon Jones scandal, as the arrest occurred in late 2025. However, NBA fans know he was arrested for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The craziest part might be his involvement in rigged poker games involving Billups and Rozier.
3. Shohei Ohtani’s Interpreter
Shohei Ohtani arguably has a Hall of Fame career through the first half of his career. However, he nearly lost everything due to a sports betting controversy. Allegedly, Ohtani’s interpreter — Ippei Mizuhara — stole money to pay off gambling debts. It wasn’t a small sum either, mind you. Mizuhara lost around $183 million through his bets.
Investigators said the interpreter took over $16 million from Ohtani to pay his slips. Mizuhara made 19,000 bets over two years, underscoring the extent of his habits. Fans initially questioned Ohtani’s involvement in the scandal. That said, the MLB and federal investigators cleared Ohtani of wrongdoing.
2. Tim Donaghy
Players and coaches being involved in sports betting scandals is bad enough — it’s even worse when the referees get involved. Two decades ago, Tim Donaghy was at the center of controversy after he was caught gambling on NBA games. Beyond typical matches, he also bet on games that he officiated.
Donaghy has been disgraced from the NBA community for more reasons than one. For instance, reports say he and the other referees targeted players they disliked, including Allen Iverson. The Answer was among the best at his position, yet he was on the wrong side of Donaghy’s whistle. The former referee also transmitted gambling information to other officials.
1. Chicago Black Sox
It doesn’t get worse than messing with the championship series. A century ago, the Chicago White Sox intentionally lost the World Series after conspiring with sports gamblers. Overall, eight players were implicated in the matter. Even Shoeless Joe Jackson participated in the controversy, which tainted his stellar career.
The Cincinnati Reds were underdogs heading into the World Series. However, the gambling ring bet heavily on them to win, which raised some eyebrows. There were signs of throwing the game, including Eddie Cicotte’s uncharacteristically bad game. For the rest of time, they’ll be remembered in infamy as the Black Sox.
Remembering the Worst Sports Betting Scandals
Professional sports give fans the highest of highs, from the Miracle on Ice to Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier. However, sports gambling delivers the lowest of lows. Unfortunately, it’ll only get worse with betting becoming widespread.
