Sports betting scandals happened before the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act made the spread of legal wagering a national possibility in 2018.
The 1919 Chicago White Sox, Pete Rose, and Tim Donaghy still elicit scorn for how their misdeeds hacked at Americans’ belief that the games they watched and poured dollars and emotions into were pure. Certainly, other nefarious and undiscovered deeds made some of those games impure. But there was serenity in the obliviousness.
Pro sports leagues benefitting financially from the growth of sports betting put integrity systems in place in conjunction with sportsbooks when gambling became an engagement tool and a rare new revenue stream. These networks of league and operator detectives seem to pull back a cloak on some new plot each week. While it’s a good thing that these discoveries are being made, their high-profile nature and frequency have focused debate on how sports betting could be changing sports as we know it.
Gaming Today will chronicle these sports betting scandals as they become known. This list includes college and professional athletics in the United States and sports with growing popularity domestically, like the English Premier League.
Sports Betting Scandals, Post-2018:
Josh Shaw, Nov. 29, 2019: The Arizona Cardinals defensive back (right) was the first active player to be suspended for betting on NFL games in the post-PASPA era. While on injured reserve, Shaw bet against his team as part of a parlay in a Las Vegas casino.
According to the NFL: “No evidence was found that indicated Shaw used inside information or “that any game was compromised in any way” … “Nor was there evidence suggesting any awareness by teammates, coaches or other players of his betting activity.”
Shaw, who was 26 when suspended, never returned to the NFL.
Felipe Hernandez, Oct. 8, 2021: The Sporting KC midfielder drew the first MLS gambling suspension after an investigation found he’d wagered on league matches. Hernandez had already informed the team of his activities and expressed concern about his safety because of gambling debts he’d amassed. Hernandez was reinstated in January of 2022 but was placed on administrative leave on June 14, 2024, when he was found to have violated the MLS gambling policy again.
Calvin Ridley, March 7, 2022: The then-Atlanta Falcons wide receiver (right) was found by the NFL to have bet on league games while
on leave to address mental health issues. The Falcons were involved in at least one parlay he bet.
Ridley was reinstated in March of 2023 and plays for the Tennessee Titans.
During the investigation, Ridley bristled at suggestions that he was a problem gambler, responding with messages on social media about how small he considered his bets.
Yasiel Puig, Nov. 14, 2022: The US Attorney’s Office announced that the former MLB player would accept a felony plea deal for lying to investigators about his gambling activity. Federal authorities alleged that Puig accrued $282,900 in debt with illegal bookmaker Wayne Nix, who was also a former player.
Puig was not accused of betting on baseball although his wagers on “sporting events” began while he was with the Cincinnati Reds. He later rescinded his agreement to plead guilty and the case is ongoing.
Miles Austin, Dec. 23, 2022: The New York Jets wide receivers coach was suspended for at least one year after the NFL found he violated league policy for personnel by betting on sports and table games through a legal mobile account. Gambling rules for pro athletes differ from non-players, who are forbidden from any wagering activity.
Quintez Cephus, C.J. Moore, Shaka Toney, April 21, 2023: Wide receiver Cephus and safety Moore of the Detroit Lions, and Toney, a Washington Commanders defensive lineman were suspended indefinitely for wagering on NFL games.
Cephus and Toney were reinstated on April 18, 2024, but remain free agents.
Jameson Williams, Stanley Berryhill, April 21, 2023: Both wide receivers were suspended for six games after using
mobile devices to place bets at the Lions practice facility. They were not found to have wagered on NFL games.
Williams, then a rookie, claimed to have been unaware of the NFL’s gambling rules for players.
Williams (right) and Berryhill were reinstated on Sept. 29 when the NFL changed its policy, making betting on team grounds but not on NFL games punishable with a two-game suspension.
Brad Bohannon, May 4, 2023: The Alabama baseball coach was fired after providing inside information about his team to Indiana bettor Bert Neff, who then bet against the Crimson Tide in a game against LSU. The NCAA sanctioned the coach with a 15-year show-cause order, meaning any school hiring him must suspend him for the entire regular season in the first five years of his employment.
Neff was sentenced to eight months in prison and three years of supervised release in July of 2024 after pleading guilty to obstruction of justices charges.
Iowa-Iowa State athletes, May 8, 2023: The schools suspended more than 20 athletes and a Hawkeyes athletics department employee after allegedly breaking NCAA rules by wagering on games.
In 2024, several sued in federal court accusing Iowa authorities of violating their civil rights by using warrantless searches of private information.
Ivan Toney, May 17, 2023: The striker for Brentford of the English Premier League (right) was suspended for eight months by the English Football Association after admitting 232 betting rule “breaches.”
Toney’s suspension was reduced because he’d been diagnosed with a gambling addiction. He returned to Brentford in January of 2024 as a starter and a captain.
Isaiah Rodgers Sr., Rashod Berry, Demetrius Taylor, Nicholas Petit-Frere, June 29, 2023: Rodgers Sr., Berry (Colts) and Taylor (free agent) were suspended through the 2023 season for betting on NFL games. Rodgers Sr. claimed his bets were made for friends and family.
Berry and Taylor were reinstated on April 18, 2024, but remain unsigned. Rodgers was reinstated on April 23, 2024, and is on the Philadelphia Eagles roster.
Petit-Frere, a Tennessee Titans offensive tackle, was suspended six games for betting on sports on team grounds. The amended NFL gambling policy made players betting on their team subject to a minimum two-year suspension.
Harry Toffolo, Sept. 23, 2023: The Nottingham Forest defender was served a suspended five-month ban and a fine for 375 breaches of FA Rule E1 (b) from 2014 to 2017.
Shane Pinto, Oct. 26, 2023: The Ottawa Senators center was suspended 41 games for “activities relating to sports wagering” discovered by NHL integrity
monitors. The 23-year-old center returned on Jan. 12, 2024.
Pinto (left) said he was “a little bit” surprised he had broken NHL gambling rules, telling reporters: “But that’s no excuse. I’ve got to be more cautious, just more mature in what I’m doing. I got to realize the position I’m in. There’s always going to be a microscope on professional athletes. Like I said, I took that for granted and I’ve got to be better with it.”
Sandro Tonali, Oct. 26, 2023: The incoming Newcastle United midfielder (right) was suspended by the Italian Football 
Association for 10 months after admitting he bet on games while playing for Juventus.
The ban, approved by Fifa, also ruled him out of play in England, where it was later found he bet on soccer after coming to Tyneside.
Tonali’s agent said at the time that Tonali suffers from addiction. A subsequent two-month banishment for betting while at Newcastle was suspended.
Tonali is eligible to return in August of 2024.
Vince India, Jake Staiano, Oct. 27, 2023: The competitors on the Korn Ferry Tour – a PGA TOUR under series – were suspended for betting on PGA events, but not ones in which they played. India was banned for three months and Staiano for six months.
Kayshon Boutte, Jan. 25, 2024: The New England Patriots wide receiver was arrested by Louisiana State Police and charged with a felony count of computer fraud and misdemeanor underage gambling charge stemming from his career at LSU. Police allege that he created a false betting account to bet underage in 2022 and 2023.
The NFL has not released its findings from an investigation of the 2023 rookie.
The charges were dropped in July of 2024.
Ippei Mizuhara, March 20, 2024: Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter (right) was fired as questions arose over $4.5 million in bank transfers from the Dodger superstar’s personal 
account to a California man being investigated by federal authorities for running an illegal gambling ring.
Mizuhara was charged with stealing more than $16 million to fuel what the interpreter deemed a gambling addiction. He accepted a plea deal and could face up to nine years in prison. Mathew Bowyer, who ran the illegal ring that Mizuhara used, pleaded guilty to federal charges, including money laundering and filing a false tax statement.
Alleged ringleader Long Phi “Bruce” Pham pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy in October 2024. Another co-conspirator, Damien LeForbes, entered a guilty plea for operating an unlawful gambling business and laundering money in August of 2024.
Ohtani was deemed a victim by federal authorities.
Jontay Porter, April 17, 2024: The NBA banned the former Toronto Raptor (left) for life after an investigation revealed multiple violations of the league gambling policy, including betting on games and conspiring with gamblers to alter his performance to manipulate the outcome of “under” prop bets. He’d been suspended since. Multiple members of the gambling ring with which he was involved were charged with fraud by federal authorities.
On July 10, 2024, Porter pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in US federal court.
Canadian police launched a criminal investigation into Porter’s actions.
Porter’s lawyer claimed his client suffers from a gambling addiction.
Lucas Paqueta, May 23, 2024: The 26-year-old West Ham United midfielder and Brazil international was charged by the Football Association for intentionally attempting to draw yellow cards in four EPL games in 2022 and 2023.
The FA said in a statement: “It’s alleged that he directly sought to influence … these matches by intentionally seeking to receive a card from the referee for the improper purpose of affecting the betting market in order for one or more persons to profit from betting.”
Paqueta denied wrongdoing, posting on social media: “For nine months, I have cooperated with every step of their investigation and provided all the information I can.” He went on to play for Brazil in Copa America as the investigation continued.
Tucupita Marcano, June 4, 2024: The San Diego Padres infielder (right) was banned for life for betting on Pirates games while on Pittsburgh’s roster in 2023. He apparently did not bet on games in which he played.
Marcano became the first active Major League Baseball player in a century banned for betting on games.
MLB Statement: “The strict enforcement of Major League Baseball’s rules and policies governing gambling conduct is a critical component of upholding our most important priority: protecting the integrity of our games for the fans,” baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “The longstanding prohibition against betting on Major League Baseball games by those in the sport has been a bedrock principle for over a century. We have been clear that the privilege of playing in baseball comes with a responsibility to refrain from engaging in certain types of behavior that are legal for other people.”
Michael Kelly (Athletics), Jay Groome (Padres), Jose Rodriguez (Phillies), and Andrew Saalfrank (Diamondbacks) were suspended for a year for betting on baseball, but not on their teams.
Pat Hoberg, June 14, 2024: Umpire Pat Hoberg (left) was levied an undisclosed punishment for allegedly violating MLB gambling rules.
MLB said in a statement to The Athletic: “While MLB’s investigation did not find any evidence that games worked by Mr. Hoberg were compromised or manipulated in any way, MLB determined that discipline was warranted.”
Hoberg has appealed.
Richard Bredice, July 4, 2024: The lead performance analyst for Burnley in the second-tier championship division was suspended for 12 months and fined for making 456 bets on soccer between 2014 and 2022.
Dylan Duffy, July 11, 2024: The English Football Association alleged the Lincoln City forward “placed, instructed, permitted or enabled” wagers on 30 games between August, 2023 and April.
Notre Dame men’s swimming and diving teams, Aug. 15, 2024: The program was suspended for at least one academic year over what athletics director Pete Bevacqua called “numerous violations of NCAA rules prohibiting gambling on intercollegiate swimming and other athletic competitions.” The team’s coaches were found to have been unaware of the problem following a review by an external law firm.
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