Pro Sports Betting Scandals: The Ultimate Guide From 1877-2026

By Bill Speros

Jan 15th, 2026 5:28 PM EST

The 1919 Chicago White Sox set the standard for sports betting scandals. (Alamy)

Pro sports betting scandals have been a concern for major leagues since the first organized baseball games were played in the wake of the U.S. Civil War.

The earliest betting scandal of note in the United States goes back to 1877, nearly 150 years ago. Betting scandals touch multiple sports on the pro level. Some were small in scope, others ensnared massive criminal schemes.

Betting scandals tarnish journeymen players and superstars. Pete Rose amassed more hits than anyone in MLB history but remains an outcast in Cooperstown. He died while under a lifetime ban from the game for betting on his own team.

Since the Supreme Court nullified a federal law that banned sports betting in 2018, betting scandals have grown in both number and notice. That growth has partly occurred because of the integrity guiderails in place that report suspicious activity that would otherwise have gone unnoticed.

Your Ultimate Guide To Pro Sports Betting Scandals

Here is a look at notable sports betting scandals involving major-league teams in the United States, listed chronologically:

Year: 1877

Sport: Baseball

Scandal: in just the second season of the National League, 4 players on the Louisville Greys took money to lose games and were ultimately banned for life. Among the players caught in the scandal was 1st baseman/pitcher/outfielder Jim Devlin. Think the Babe Ruth or Shohei Ohtani of the late 19^th Century.

Year: 1917

Sport: Baseball

Scandal: Led by Boston bookmakers operating out in the open in right field, a group of fans at Fenway Park storm the field during a 4^th-inning rain delay with Boston trailing 2-1. Most bet on the Red Sox to win. Fights broke out between players on the visiting White Sox and the fans. Eventually, the skies cleared, the game resumed, and the Red Sox – led by pitcher Babe Ruth (above) – still lost.

'Eight Men Out'

Year: 1919

Sport: Baseball

Scandal: The “Black Sox Scandal” remains a tentpole in the history of baseball and betting. In 1920, a grand jury indicted eight members of the Chicago White Sox on charges of fixing the 1919 World Series. Eight players, including “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, would eventually be permanently banned by Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Although a jury returned a not guilty verdict on all charges against the eight, their ban from baseball remained in place until they were reinstated by Commissioner Rob Manfred in May of 2025.

Year: 1946

Sport: Hockey

Scandal: The NHL suspends eventual Hall of Famer Babe Pratt for gambling before having him reinstated weeks later. The NHL Board of Governors issued a warning against future instances of gambling.

Year: 1948

Sport: Hockey

Scandal: Boston Bruins teammates Billy Taylor and Don Gallinger receive lifetime bans from the NHL after betting on games during the 1947-48 season. They bet against their own team, rationalizing the wagers because they believed the Bruins would lose those games, anyway. The suspensions would be lifted in 1970.

Year: 1963

Sport: Football

Scandal: NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle suspends Green Bay halfback Paul Hornung and Detroit defensive tackle Alex Karras indefinitely. Both would miss the full 1963 season. The eventual Pro Football Hall of Famers admitted to betting on NFL games, some back to 1960. While Karras bet with bookmakers, Hornung said he only bet with friends. Since 2022, a dozen NFL players have been suspended for various gambling infractions. But all have been reinstated. Chief among them was then-Falcons WR Calvin Ridley, who missed an entire season for betting on NFL games while away from the team in Florida addressing mental health concerns. Indianapolis players Isaiah Rodgers Sr., Rashod Berry and Demetrius Taylor were also suspended indefinitely and released by the Colts for betting on NFL games.

'I'm sorry I bet on baseball'

Year: 1989
Sport: Baseball
Scandal: Pete Rose agrees to a lifetime ban from Major League Baseball after an investigation led by attorney John Dowd concludes that Rose repeatedly bet on Cincinnati Reds games from 1985–87 while both playing for and managing the team. Rose maintained he only bet on the Reds to win, but MLB ruled that wagering on games involving one’s own team violated the sport’s integrity rules. Baseball’s all-time hits leader with 4,256, Rose remained permanently ineligible for the Hall of Fame until his death in 2024. He spent the final decades of his life signing "I'm sorry I bet on baseball" with his autograph. In May 2025, Commissioner Rob Manfred amended MLB eligibility rules to allow for Rose's consideration for induction into Cooperstown.

Year: 2007
Sport: Hockey
Scandal: Rick Tocchet, now head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and promoting gambling while serving as an assistant coach with the Phoenix Coyotes. He received two years of probation and was reinstated by the NHL the following season. The case stemmed from “Operation Slapshot,” a New Jersey–based gambling ring. Others initially implicated included several NHL players, Wayne Gretzky’s wife Janet Jones, and Gretzky’s former agent and Coyotes general manager Michael Barnett. Tocchet was never accused of betting on hockey games himself.

The Ultimate 'Bad Call'

Year: 2008
Sport: Basketball
Scandal: NBA referee Tim Donaghy pleaded guilty to wire fraud and transmitting betting information after admitting he accepted thousands of dollars from gamblers in exchange for inside information on games, including contests he officiated. The games took place over four seasons from 2003-07. The scandal rocked the league and raised concerns about officiating integrity. Donaghy recieved a 15-month sentence in federal prison and was permanently banned from The Association.

Year: 2023
Sport: Hockey
Scandal: NHL suspends Ottawa Senators forward Shane Pinto for 41 games for violating the league’s gambling policy. The league found no evidence that Pinto bet on hockey, but did not disclose further details. Pinto declined to elaborate publicly when he rejoined the Senators in January 2024.

Year: 2024
Sport: Baseball
Scandal: The Los Angeles Dodgers fired Shohei Ohtani's interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. Reports linked him to an illegal bookmaker under investigation by the FBI. Mizuhara later pleaded guilty to federal bank and tax fraud for stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani to cover gambling debts. Prosecutors said Mizuhara exploited language barriers, blocked financial advisors, and impersonated Ohtani to banks to prolong the scheme. The stolen money also funded personal expenses, including baseball cards and medical bills.

An Early Exit Tips Off Bettors

Year: 2024
Sport: Basketball
Scandal: Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter received a lifetime ban from the NBA after investigators determined he shared confidential information with bettors. Porter also wagered on games, including betting on his own team to lose. The league uncovered unusual betting patterns through licensed sportsbooks tied to a March 20 game against Sacramento. That night, Porter played only three minutes, recording 0 points, 2 rebounds, and 0 assists before taking himself out of the game, citing an illness. Porter provided health information to a bettor, who placed an $80,000 parlay wager that could have paid $1.1 million. Commissioner Adam Silver called the violations “blatant.”

Year: 2024
Sport: Baseball
Scandal: MLB banned San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano for life after determining he placed 387 baseball bets totaling more than $150,000 with a legal sportsbook. Marcano became the first active MLB player in a century banned for gambling. Oakland Athletics pitcher Michael Kelly received a one-year suspension. Three minor leaguers were also banned for a year after betting smaller amounts on major league games.

Year: 2025
Sport: Baseball
Scandal: MLB fired umpire Pat Hoberg for sharing his legal betting accounts with a friend who wagered on baseball games and for deleting messages relevant to an investigation. While MLB found no evidence Hoberg personally bet on baseball or manipulated games, his actions violated league integrity policies. The friend placed 141 baseball bets totaling nearly $214,000, including wagers on games Hoberg officiated. Hoberg may apply for reinstatement no earlier than 2026.

Year: 2025
Sport: Baseball
Scandal: MLB places Cleveland Guardians pitchers Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase on paid leave during a betting investigation tied to suspicious in-game prop bets. Integrity firms flagged unusual wagering activity on specific pitches. Federal authorities indicted the pair on charges alleging they accepted bribes to provide advance notice of pitch types and intentionally threw balls to ensure betting outcomes.

'The Insider Trading Saga Of The NBA'

Year: 2025
Sport: Basketball
Scandal: Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former player and coach Damon Jones get named in a sweeping federal gambling indictment involving 31 defendants. The Feds charged Billups in a scheme to fix high-stakes card games linked to organized crime, allegedly cheating gamblers out of at least $7 million. Authorities accused Rozier in a separate scheme involving misuse of inside NBA information. Jones allegedly participated in both conspiracies and has pleaded not guilty. "This is the insider trading saga of the NBA," FBI Director Kash Patel said during a press conference after the indictments were unsealed.

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