Prominent instances of sports betting scandals, featuring the Black Sox team, Shohei Ohtani's interpreter, among others, under the spotlight for questionable game outcomes
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Sports betting scandals have been a part of the history of U.S. professional sports for over a century. One of the most notorious incidents, the 1919 Black Sox Scandal, involved eight members of the Chicago White Sox being indicted for fixing the World Series [1][4]. Despite being acquitted in court, they were permanently banned from baseball by the commissioner.
Following the Black Sox Scandal, there have been numerous suspensions and bans related to gambling. In 1946, NHL star Babe Pratt was suspended for gambling, though he was reinstated shortly after with a warning. In 1948, Billy Taylor and Don Gallinger were given lifetime bans from the NHL for betting on hockey games [1].
The legal landscape for sports betting changed significantly with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in May 2018 (Murphy v. NCAA), which allowed sports betting in most states [2]. This decision led to a rise in reported gambling scandals involving players and officials across various leagues.
In the NFL, at least 15 players have been suspended for gambling violations, dating back to 1963, when Green Bay halfback Paul Hornung and Detroit defensive tackle Alex Karras were suspended for the season for betting on league games [3]. More recently, Calvin Ridley was suspended in 2022 for betting on league games, including those involving his own team, although he was reinstated in 2023. Additionally, coaches and league personnel have faced penalties for gambling violations, including Miles Austin, a wide receivers coach suspended for betting on sports using a legal app [3].
In Major League Baseball, investigations continue into betting activity, such as the ongoing 2025 probe involving Cleveland Guardians pitchers Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase, linked to unusual betting patterns on specific in-game events flagged by monitoring firms [1].
Soccer has also been affected by gambling scandals. In 2023, Ivan Toney of Brentford, Sandro Tonali of Newcastle, and Nicolò Fagioli of Juventus all served gambling bans. Fagioli was banned for seven months by the Italian soccer federation [2].
Other notable incidents include the 1951 accusations against 35 active and former players for fixing at least 86 games between 1947 and 1951 [1]. In 1980, two Italian soccer teams were relegated and five others penalized for their involvement in a match-fixing scandal, "Totonero" [1].
In 2008, NBA referee Tim Donaghy pleaded guilty to wire fraud and transmitting betting information for taking thousands of dollars from a gambler for inside tips on games, including games he worked. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison [3].
In conclusion, sports betting scandals in U.S. professional sports have evolved from outright game-fixing conspiracies in the early 1900s to a complex landscape today shaped by legalized betting but also strict league policies aiming to preserve integrity [1][3][4]. The 2018 Supreme Court decision significantly reshaped the legal environment for betting in sports, increasing accessibility and scrutiny alike [2].
References: [1] https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35029742/sports-betting-scandals-history-professional-sports [2] https://www.npr.org/2018/05/14/610745468/sports-betting-is-now-legal-in-most-states-heres-what-you-need-to-know [3] https://www.si.com/nfl/2022/08/02/nfl-gambling-scandals-history-calvin-ridley-miles-austin-josh-shaw-tim-donaghy [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sox_Scandal
Sports-analysis has become crucial in detecting suspicious betting patterns and potential game-fixing activities, especially after the legalization of sports-betting in many states. For instance, monitoring firms flagged unusual betting patterns on specific in-game events involving Cleveland Guardians pitchers Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase in the 2025 Major League Baseball investigation.
Given the rise in reported gambling scandals following the 2018 Supreme Court ruling on sports-betting, it's essential for sports organizations to implement robust sports-analysis strategies to maintain the integrity of the games.
