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A look at the major betting scandals in North American professional sports history.
Terry Rozier faces federal charges. (AP Photo)
U.S. authorities have arrested more than 30 individuals, including Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, in connection with a federal investigation into illegal gambling, prosecutors announced on Thursday.
Professional sports in North America have a long history of improper or illegal wagering among players, from its inception to the modern era of legal betting.
Here are some notable sports betting scandals:
‘BLACK SOX’ BETTING SCANDAL
One of the earliest and most infamous betting scandals in professional baseball involved several members of the Chicago White Sox, who were found to have conspired with gamblers to throw games in the 1919 World Series. This scandal led to the appointment of baseball’s first commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who banned eight White Sox players for their involvement. Landis also banned Philadelphia Phillies President William D. Cox in 1943 for betting on games.
PETE ROSE BANISHED FOR BETS
In 1989, Major League Baseball Commissioner Bart Giamatti imposed a lifetime ban on all-time hits leader Pete Rose for gambling on games while managing the Cincinnati Reds. This ban prevented the 17-time All-Star from entering the Hall of Fame. Rose maintained his innocence for 15 years before admitting to the bets in 2004, stating he never bet against his own team. Rose was posthumously removed from MLB’s permanently ineligible list earlier this year, making him eligible for the Hall of Fame, following repeated calls from U.S. President Donald Trump.
NFL SUSPENDS JOSH SHAW
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Josh Shaw became the first NFL player suspended for betting on multiple league games since the Supreme Court paved the way for legalized sports gambling in 2018. The league suspended Shaw indefinitely in November 2019, although it acknowledged he did not use any insider information in his wagers. Shaw successfully appealed for reinstatement in 2021 but never played in the NFL again. The NFL implemented stricter penalties for similar offenses in 2023, with players facing a minimum two-year suspension for betting on games involving their own teams and a minimum one-year suspension for betting on any NFL game.
NHL BANS SHANE PINTO
Ottawa Senators forward Shane Pinto received a 41-game suspension—essentially half of the NHL season—for activities related to sports wagering in 2023. According to the league, Pinto, who was 22 years old at the time, did not bet on any NHL games, but still served one of the NHL’s longest suspensions for violating gambling rules in the modern online betting era. He later returned to play for the Senators.
JONTAY PORTER’S LIFETIME BAN
The NBA issued a lifetime ban to Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter in 2024 for violating the league’s gambling policy, marking one of the most egregious cases in the modern sports betting era. An NBA investigation found that Porter limited his own game participation to influence the outcome of bets on his performance. In one instance, he pulled himself from a game after just three minutes, claiming to feel ill. He later pleaded guilty to a criminal conspiracy charge.
With Reuters Inputs
Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital…Read More
Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital… Read More
October 24, 2025, 11:07 IST
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