Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2025, 08:50 PM ET
On May 14, 2018, just after 10 a.m. ET, the United States Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, the federal statute that had restricted legal betting to primarily Nevada for 26 years.
It was a landmark decision for two of America’s favorite pastimes: sports and gambling.
States wasted little time launching — and taxing — legal sports betting markets, and professional leagues quickly formed partnerships with the bookmaking companies that would be taking bets on the games. Six years later, 39 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have legal betting markets, and bettors have already wagered more the $330 billion with the new state-sponsored sportsbooks. But as the betting has increased, so have the controversies that come from gambling.
In the past two years, dozens of professional and collegiate athletes and coaches have been suspended or fired for gambling violations, and at least one bettor has pleaded guilty to obstruction charges related to a college baseball betting scandal. In early 2024, a pair of investigations were launched involving suspicious betting on Temple men’s basketball and on prop wagers involving Toronto Raptors reserve center Jontay Porter. The NBA banned Porter for life after its investigation revealed he had disclosed confidential information to bettors, limited his participation in at least one game while he was with Raptors and bet on NBA games while playing in the G League.
The gaming industry and sports leagues say the legal system is working, with the increased visibility of the betting that is taking place helping spot anomalies. But the incidents — including players betting on games they’re involved with — persist.
Meanwhile, the underground betting market that has existed in the U.S. since sports have existed continues to thrive, with unlicensed bookmakers offering credit and attracting some high-profile clientele who might be hoping for more anonymity. Ippei Mizuhara, former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, was fired in March for using such a bookie. Mizuhara later turned himself in to authorities after prosecutors alleged he stole more than $16 million from Ohtani’s account.
California and Texas, the two largest states, have yet to legalize sports betting, so the U.S. market has plenty of room for growth, and there is no shortage of betting interest from the public. How big the American betting market gets is anyone’s guess. Perhaps the safest bet, though, is that there will be more controversies. — David Purdum
Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY Sports
May 14, 2018: Supreme Court strikes down federal prohibitions on sports gambling
The United States Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to strike down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protections act — a 1992 law barring state-authorized sports gambling (Nevada had been primarily the only exception). The ruling, which ended a nearly six-year legal battle, opened the door for any state interested in legalizing sports gambling to do so.
Nov. 29, 2019: NFL suspends Josh Shaw indefinitely
Josh Shaw was the first active player, though on injured reserve, to be suspended for betting on league games. He bet openly at a sportsbook in Las Vegas against his own team at the time, the Arizona Cardinals, as part of a parlay.
Josh Shaw was the first active player to be suspended for betting on league games. Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire
Sept. 8, 2020: University of Colorado signs sponsorship deal with Denver-based PointsBet
The five-year deal between Colorado and PointsBet permitted the sports betting operator to display signs at Colorado’s football stadium and basketball arena as well as have ads on other media such as radio broadcasts.
May 26, 2021: Capital One Arena in Washington becomes the first professional sports arena in the U.S. with a fully operational sportsbook
Monumental Sports, the owner of the Washington Wizards, Washington Mystics and Washington Capitals, agreed to a 10-year lease with William Hill Sportsbook.
Oct. 8, 2021: Sporting KC’s Felipe Hernandez suspended for betting on MLS games
An independent investigation launched in July 2021 found Hernandez had engaged in “extensive and unlawful sports gambling” while a member of Sporting Kansas City, including gambling on MLS games. Hernandez had informed the team about his gambling on July 5, telling it he was worried about his personal safety because of the debts he had accumulated.
March 7, 2022: NFL suspends Calvin Ridley for one year
Ridley, an Atlanta Falcons receiver at the time, was suspended for at least the entirety of the 2022 season after the NFL determined he had gambled on games during a five-day stretch in November 2021 while on the non-football injury list. Sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the stretch included multilegged parlay bets that included the Falcons to win. He was reinstated in March 2023.
Dec. 23, 2022: New York Jets WR coach Miles Austin suspended for one year
Miles Austin, the Jets’ wide receiver coach, was suspended for at least one year for violating the NFL’s gambling policy. The league had opened an investigation into Austin after finding out he was gambling on sports — not on NFL games or college football — which violates the NFL personnel gambling policy.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams was among five players suspended for gambling in April of 2023. Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images
Jan. 19, 2023: UFC tightens gambling rules, hires integrity firm amid investigations into suspicious gambling activity before fight
The UFC added stricter language about wagering in its fight code of conduct and hired U.S. Integrity, a sports wagering monitoring firm. The change stemmed from suspicious betting patterns related to a UFC fight between Darrick Minner and Shayilan Nuerdanbieke.
March 29, 2023: University of Colorado and PointsBet end partnership three years early
Colorado and SportsBet announced in a joint statement it was “mutually beneficial” to end their partnership after nearly three years. One day prior, the American Gaming Association had released revised guidelines that advised against similar partnerships between sportsbooks and colleges.
April 21, 2023: Jameson Williams among five NFL players suspended for gambling
Detroit Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus, safety C.J. Moore and Washington Commanders defensive end Shaka Toney were indefinitely suspended for betting on NFL games, while Jameson Williams and Stanley Berryhill were suspended for six games for mobile betting that occurred at the Lions’ Allen Park facility, though Williams and Berryhill did not bet on NFL games.
May 4, 2023: Alabama fires head baseball coach Brad Bohannon after link to suspicious bets
Ohio gambling regulators had initially halted betting on college baseball games involving Alabama after suspicious wagering activity was detected for its game against LSU. Federal prosecutors alleged Bert Neff, an Indiana businessman and youth baseball coach, communicated with Bohannon ahead of an Alabama-LSU baseball game and proceeded to bet against the Crimson Tide. Alabama fired Bohannon six days after the betting had been halted.
May 8, 2023: Start of Iowa-Iowa State gambling investigation
The University of Iowa and Iowa State University announce more than three dozen athletes — spanning baseball, football, men’s basketball, men’s track and field, and wrestling — and one full-time Iowa athletic department employee were suspected of violating NCAA rules against gambling on sports.
June 29, 2023: NFL suspends four players (three for betting on their own team) for gambling violations
Indianapolis Colts’ Isaiah Rodgers Sr. and Rashod Berry and free agent Demetrius Taylor were suspended by the NFL through at least the 2023 season for betting on NFL games in 2022. Rodgers, however, said that the bets he made were for other people, whom he declined to identify.
Read: Inside the NFL’s gambling policy and uptick in violations
Sept. 29, 2023: Jameson Williams reinstated after NFL tweaks gambling policy
The NFL modified its gambling policies to make it so players who bet on their own teams would be punished more harshly — a suspension of at least two years — and players who bet on any NFL games would be punished with a one-year suspension. Players who bet on non-NFL sports while at a team facility or on team-related travel would now receive a two-game suspension for a first violation, six games for a second and at least one year for a third.
Read: Amid gambling violations, NFL players debate betting policy
Oct 26, 2023: NHL player Shane Pinto suspended 41 games for gambling
It is unclear how Ottawa Senators center Shane Pinto violated the NHL’s sports wagering policy, but Pinto did have an online gambling account in the U.S. that was flagged by an NHL integrity protection partner “because of unusual activity,” according to the Ottawa Sun.
Oct. 27, 2023: Two Korn Ferry Tour golfers suspended for sports betting
Vince India and Jake Staiano, golfers on the PGA Tour’s feeder tour, were suspended for three and six months, respectively, for placing bets on PGA Tour competitions. Neither wagered on tournaments in which they played.
Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, has been accused of bank fraud in relation to allegations he stole money from Ohtani to cover his own gambling debts. AP Photo/Ashley Landis
Jan. 25, 2024: Patriots’ Kayshon Boutte arrested over illegal betting at LSU
Louisiana State police said the charges against wide receiver Kayshon Boutte include a felony count of computer fraud and a misdemeanor count of gambling prohibited for persons under 21, but that there could be additional charges as the investigation was ongoing. Boutte allegedly used an alias to get around the age requirement for placing sports wagers in Louisiana while he placed bets from April 6, 2022, through May 7, 2023, while he was 20.
March 8, 2024: Temple reviews reports of unusual gambling activity
Watchdog company U.S. Integrity flagged at least one Temple men’s basketball game for unusual betting activity, prompting Caesars Sportsbook and FanDuel, among other sportsbooks, to halt betting on the game.
March 12, 2024: Ex-Jaguars employee Amit Patel given 6 ½ year prison sentence for fraud
Amit Patel pleaded guilty to stealing $22 million from the team. Patel stole the money over the course of 3½ years as he transferred approximately $20 million to FanDuel and $1 million to DraftKings, using the rest of the stolen money on various other expenditures.
March 20, 2024: Dodgers fire Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, amid allegations of “massive theft” stemming from gambling debts
Ippei Mizuhara was fired after questions started to arise surrounding at least $4.5 million in wire transfers sent from Shohei Ohtani’s bank account to a bookmaking operation that is under federal investigation. A spokesman for Ohtani initially told ESPN that Ohtani had transferred the funds to cover Mizuhara’s gambling debt.
Read: Shohei Ohtani, his interpreter and wire transfers: A timeline
March 25, 2024: NBA eyes Raptors’ Jontay Porter for betting issues
Multiple sources told ESPN that Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter was being investigated by the NBA for making prop bets from games on Jan. 26 and March 20 involving himself.
March 27, 2024: NCAA president calls for ban on college prop bets
NCAA president Charlie Baker calls for ban on college prop bets. Baker said this is to protect “the integrity and competition” of the game as well as stop the harassment of student and professional athletes.
April 11, 2024: Federal prosecutors say Mizuhara stole more than $16 million from Ohtani
Federal authorities filed a complaint accusing Mizuhara of bank fraud in relation to allegations he stole money from Ohtani to cover his own gambling debts. The prosecutors said Ohtani is considered a victim in this case.
April 17, 2024: NBA bans Jontay Porter for life
The NBA announced its investigation found that “Porter violated league rules by disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes, and betting on NBA games.”
June 3, 2024: Padres Marcano faces potential lifetime ban
San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano is facing a potential lifetime ban for betting on baseball. Major League Baseball received information that he wagered on games involving the Pittsburgh Pirates when he was with them last season, sources confirmed to ESPN.
June 4, 2024: Marcano gets lifetime ban; four other players suspended for one year
For violating MLB’s sports betting rules and policies, the league announced San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano had been declared permanently ineligible. Additionally, Oakland Athletics pitcher Michael Kelly, Padres minor league pitcher Jay Groome, Philadelphia Phillies minor league infielder José RodrÃguez and Arizona Diamondbacks minor league pitcher Andrew Saalfrank were all declared ineligible for one year.
June 14, 2024: MLB disciplines an umpire for violating league’s gambling rules
Umpire Pat Hoberg has been disciplined for violating the league’s gambling rules, though the nature of the discipline is unknown. Hoberg has denied betting on baseball and is appealing the discipline, but he has not umpired a game this season.
Aug. 15, 2024: Notre Dame suspends men’s swim team at least one year for gambling
An external review found that members of the Fighting Irish men’s swim team were in violation of NCAA rules by wagering on the results of their competitions and failed to “treat one another with dignity and respect,” which resulted in a suspension of the program for at least one year. According to a source, the athletes established a sportsbook within the confines of the team to place their wagers. However, the source said, they did not bet on competitors or on any other Notre Dame athletic events.
Jan. 30, 2025: Federal investigators eyeing Terry Rozier’s play in 2023 game
Federal prosecutors are investigating unusual betting patterns surrounding the play of former Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier in a game almost two years ago. It’s part of the same investigation that led to Porter’s lifetime suspension. First reported by the Wall Street Journal, Rozier, who played for the Hornets at that time and now plays for the Miami Heat, has neither been charged with a crime nor has he been accused of wrongdoing. The NBA said it looked into the matter at the time and did not find that any league rules were broken.
Feb 22, 2025: NCAA, Fresno State investigating betting allegations
Fresno State and the NCAA investigated allegations that two men’s basketball players participated in daily fantasy contests based on their own performances, according to sources familiar with the matter.
On Feb. 22, Fresno State said in a statement that two other players, senior guard Jalen Weaver and sophomore guard Zaon Collins, were “being withheld from competition as the University reviews an eligibility matter.”
June 29: Sources: Pistons’ Malik Beasley subject of federal gambling probe
Federal authorities investigated Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley on allegations of gambling related to NBA games and prop bets, sources told ESPN on June 29. The allegations were from the 2023-24 season, when Beasley played for the Milwaukee Bucks. At least one prominent U.S. sportsbook detected unusually heavy betting interest on Beasley’s statistics beginning around January 2024, a gambling industry source told ESPN’s David Purdum.
On Aug. 22, Beasley’s attorneys, Steve Haney and Mike Schachter, told ESPN that their client was no longer a target of the federal gambling investigation conducted by the Eastern District of New York. The 28-year-old shooting guard remained a free agent at the beginning of the 2025-26 NBA season.
July 3, 2025: Major League Baseball places Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz on administrative leave over betting inquiry
Luis Ortiz was under investigation by Major League Baseball after a betting-integrity firm flagged a pair of pitches that had received unusual gambling activity. Sources said betting-integrity firm IC360 sent an alert in June to sportsbook operators regarding Ortiz.
July 28, 2025: Cleveland Guardians place Emmanuel Clase on leave over betting inquiry
Clase was placed on nondisciplinary paid leave through Aug. 31 as part of Major League Baseball’s investigation into sports gambling, the second Guardians pitcher to be caught up in the inquiry. In a statement, the Guardians said “no additional players or club personnel are expected to be impacted” by the investigation.
Aug. 31, 2025: Major League Baseball extends Cleveland Guardians’ Clase, Ortiz non-disciplinary paid leave
Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz remained on nondisciplinary paid leave “until further notice” while a gambling investigation continued, Major League Baseball announced on Aug. 31.
MLB said in a statement that the league and players’ association had agreed to extend the leaves of Clase and Ortiz, adding, “We will not comment further until the investigation has been completed.”
Sept. 10, 2025: NCAA finds three former Fresno State Bulldogs basketball players conspired in gambling scheme
The NCAA ruled that Fresno State forward Mykell Robinson, San Jose State Spartans guard Steven Vasquez and Fresno State guard Jalen Weaver are permanently ineligible due to gambling violations and are no longer enrolled at their schools.
Robinson and Vasquez, who were roommates at Fresno State during the 2023-24 season, conspired to wager on Robinson to underperform during a Jan. 7, 2025, game between Fresno State and Colorado State Rams. Three prop bets totaling $2,200 were placed on the under on Robinson’s statistics. The bets, which were flagged by a Nevada sportsbook operator, won a net $15,950. One of the bets was placed by Vasquez and a “sportsbook trader,” according to the NCAA.
The NCAA investigation also discovered that Robinson and Weaver, who were teammates at Fresno State, discussed the betting lines on each other’s statistics and placed bets on themselves and each other in select games.
Oct. 23, 2025: Terry Rozier, Chauncey Billups arrested in gambling cases
Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were arrested on Oct. 23 as part of a pair of investigations related to illegal gambling, authorities announced Thursday.
Billups and Rozier were among a total of 34 people arrested. The arrests were the result of a yearslong investigation covering 11 states and involving tens of millions of dollars, FBI director Kash Patel said.
Rozier, who was arrested the morning of Oct. 23 at a hotel in Orlando, Florida, is accused of participating in an illegal sports betting scheme using private insider NBA information. Billups, who was arrested in Oregon, is charged in a separate indictment alleging a wide-ranging scheme to rig underground poker games that were backed by Mafia families, authorities said.
Former Cleveland Cavaliers player and assistant coach Damon Jones was also arrested Thursday. He allegedly provided inside information about NBA games to co-defendants who used it to place sports bets.
Go deeper: What we know about the Billups-Rozier NBA gambling cases
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