Gambling Shadows in Sports: A Look at Recent Scandals

Sports have always had a dark side, and recently, it's been about gambling. The FBI made some big arrests, including NBA coach Chauncey Billups and player Terry Rozier. This isn't new, though. Gambling scandals have been around for a long time. Back in 1920, the "Black Sox Scandal" rocked baseball. Eight Chicago White Sox players were accused of throwing the World Series. They were found not guilty, but they were still banned from the sport. This shows how serious gambling can be in sports. In 1989, Pete Rose, a baseball legend, was banned for life for betting on games. He admitted it years later. Even after his death, the ban was lifted. This shows that attitudes towards gambling in sports can change over time. The NBA has also seen its share of scandals. In 2008, referee Tim Donaghy went to jail for giving insider tips to gamblers. In 2024, Jontay Porter was banned for betting on his own team to lose. These cases show how gambling can undermine the integrity of the game. Golf isn't immune either. Phil Mickelson was accused of betting big over the years. He denied betting on the Ryder Cup, but admitted to having a gambling problem. This shows that even the best athletes can struggle with addiction. The NHL has had issues too. In 2007, Rick Tocchet was put on probation for promoting gambling. In 2023, Shane Pinto was suspended for gambling, but there was no evidence he bet on hockey. This shows that even if players don't bet on their own sport, gambling can still be a problem. Baseball has seen more recent scandals. In 2024, Tucupita Marcano was banned for life for betting on baseball. Also, umpire Pat Hoberg was fired for sharing his gambling accounts with a friend. These cases show that gambling can affect everyone in sports, not just players. The NCAA is also looking into gambling. In 2025, they started investigating 13 former basketball players for betting on games. This shows that gambling is a problem at all levels of sports.