Players Investigated for Illegal Betting Face Severe Consequences
New York, NY – April 11, 2025, 4:27 AM PDT
A wave of illegal betting scandals has rocked the sports world, with athletes across basketball and mixed martial arts under scrutiny for allegedly wagering on their own games or sharing insider information. From college courts to professional octagons, these investigations highlight the growing risks players face—ranging from lengthy suspensions and career-ending bans to criminal charges and lasting reputational damage—as sports betting’s legal boom collides with the allure of illicit gains.
In college basketball, Fresno State’s men’s basketball program has been thrust into the spotlight. Three players—guards Jalen Weaver, Zaon Collins, and former teammate Mykell Robinson—were sidelined in February 2025 after allegations surfaced that they bet on their own games, including point and rebound totals. The NCAA and university are probing whether these actions involved deliberate underperformance, a practice known as point-shaving. Such violations could lead to permanent ineligibility, scholarship losses, and NCAA sanctions against the program. Beyond athletics, the players risk legal repercussions if federal authorities, already eyeing similar cases, uncover ties to organized gambling rings.
The NBA has also been hit hard. Former Toronto Raptor Jontay Porter, banned for life in April 2024, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy after admitting he manipulated prop bets on his stats to settle gambling debts. Facing up to seven years in prison at his upcoming sentencing, Porter’s fall from promising prospect to cautionary tale underscores the stakes. His case has wider ripples—investigations into bets on college games at schools like North Carolina A&T and Mississippi Valley State suggest a broader network, potentially implicating more athletes in criminal probes.
In the UFC, fighters Jeff Molina and Darrick Minner received multi-year suspensions from the Nevada State Athletic Commission in March 2025 for their roles in a 2022 betting scandal tied to coach James Krause. Molina, who bet on Minner’s fight knowing of an undisclosed injury, faces a three-year ban, effectively stalling his career. Minner, suspected of non-disclosure, was also barred, with both fighters cut from the UFC. The scandal’s fallout includes federal scrutiny of Krause, who allegedly facilitated bets through an offshore sportsbook, raising the specter of felony charges for those involved.
The consequences extend beyond sports. Athletes caught in these schemes risk financial ruin—Porter reportedly owed $400,000 to bookies—and public vilification. Fans and teammates often turn on implicated players, as seen with Fresno State’s depleted roster struggling through a 72-69 loss to Air Force with only seven players. Social media amplifies the backlash, with posts branding offenders as “traitors to the game.” Legally, gambling violations can trigger investigations under laws like the Sports Bribery Act, carrying prison terms and hefty fines.
The rise of legal sports betting, now permitted in 38 states and generating $150 billion in wagers last year, has made oversight trickier. Illegal offshore sportsbooks, unregulated and predatory, lure players with promises of quick cash, exploiting gaps in enforcement. For young athletes, often underpaid or facing uncertain futures, the temptation to bet or leak information can seem like a low-risk gamble—until it isn’t. As one NCAA official put it, “You don’t need to be a star to be a target. One bad choice can end it all.”
With investigations ongoing and new cases emerging, the message is clear: for players flirting with illegal bets, the risks—professional, legal, and personal—are steeper than ever.