The legal landscape of sports betting in the United States underwent a dramatic transformation on May 14, 2018. At just past 10 a.m. ET, the United States Supreme Court invalidated the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, a federal law that had largely restricted legal betting activities to Nevada for 26 years.
This landmark ruling paved the way for the expansion of two major American interests: sports and wagering.
States quickly moved to establish and tax legal sports betting markets. Professional sports leagues also swiftly formed collaborations with the companies that would handle bets on games. Six years later, 39 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have operational legal betting markets, with bettors having wagered over $330 billion through these new state-regulated sportsbooks. However, alongside the growth in betting, there has been a corresponding increase in controversies linked to gambling.
In the past two years, numerous professional and collegiate athletes and coaches have faced suspensions or been fired for violating gambling rules. At least one bettor has pleaded guilty to obstruction charges connected to a college baseball betting scandal. Early in 2024, investigations were launched into suspicious betting patterns concerning Temple men`s basketball and prop bets involving Toronto Raptors reserve center Jontay Porter. The NBA`s investigation resulted in a lifetime ban for Porter, finding that he had provided confidential information to bettors, deliberately limited his participation in at least one game while with the Raptors, and placed bets on NBA games while playing in the G League.
The gambling industry and sports leagues argue that the legal framework is effective in identifying unusual betting activity, thus increasing transparency. Nevertheless, incidents, including athletes betting on games they are involved in, continue to occur.
Meanwhile, the illegal, underground betting market, which has a long history in the U.S., continues to operate. Unlicensed bookmakers offer credit and attract clients, potentially including high-profile individuals seeking anonymity. Ippei Mizuhara, formerly the interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, was fired in March for his connection to such a bookie. Mizuhara later surrendered to authorities after prosecutors alleged he stole over $16 million from Ohtani`s bank account to cover gambling debts.
California and Texas, the two most populous states, have not yet legalized sports betting, indicating substantial potential for further growth in the U.S. market, fueled by strong public interest. The ultimate size of the American betting market remains uncertain. However, perhaps the most reliable prediction is that more controversies will inevitably arise.
2018
May 14, 2018: Supreme Court lifts federal ban on sports gambling
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, a 1992 law that primarily limited legal sports betting to Nevada. This ruling, concluding a nearly six-year legal challenge, opened the door for any state interested in legalizing sports wagering.
2019
Nov. 29, 2019: NFL suspends Josh Shaw indefinitely
Josh Shaw became the first active NFL player, though on injured reserve at the time, to be suspended for betting on league games. He was found to have openly bet against his own team, the Arizona Cardinals, as part of a parlay at a Las Vegas sportsbook.
2020
Sept. 8, 2020: University of Colorado signs sponsorship deal with PointsBet
The University of Colorado entered into a five-year agreement with Denver-based PointsBet, allowing the sports betting operator to advertise at the university`s football stadium and basketball arena, as well as on radio broadcasts and other media.
2021
May 26, 2021: Capital One Arena becomes first U.S. pro venue with operational sportsbook
Monumental Sports, owner of the Washington Wizards, Washington Mystics, and Washington Capitals, signed a 10-year lease with William Hill Sportsbook, resulting in the first fully operational retail sportsbook within a U.S. professional sports arena.
Oct. 8, 2021: Sporting KC`s Felipe Hernandez suspended for betting on MLS games
An independent investigation found that Sporting Kansas City player Felipe Hernandez engaged in “extensive and unlawful sports gambling,” including betting on MLS matches. Hernandez had previously informed his team about his gambling issues, citing concerns for his personal safety due to accumulated debts.
2022
March 7, 2022: NFL suspends Calvin Ridley for one year
Calvin Ridley, then a receiver for the Atlanta Falcons, received a suspension for at least the entire 2022 season. The NFL determined he had placed bets on games over a five-day period in November 2021 while on the non-football injury list. Reports indicated some bets were multilegged parlays that included the Falcons winning. He was reinstated in March 2023.
Dec. 23, 2022: New York Jets coach Miles Austin suspended for one year
Miles Austin, the Jets` wide receivers coach, was suspended for at least one year for violating the NFL`s gambling policy. The league initiated an investigation after discovering he was betting on sports, although not NFL games or college football, which still contravenes the policy for league personnel.
2023
Jan. 19, 2023: UFC tightens gambling rules, hires integrity firm
The UFC added stricter language regarding wagering to its fight code of conduct and partnered with U.S. Integrity, a sports wagering monitoring firm. These actions followed investigations into suspicious betting patterns related to a UFC fight between Darrick Minner and Shayilan Nuerdanbieke.
March 29, 2023: University of Colorado and PointsBet end partnership early
In a joint statement, Colorado and PointsBet announced they had “mutually beneficial” reasons to end their partnership nearly three years ahead of schedule. This decision came one day after the American Gaming Association released updated guidelines advising against similar partnerships between sportsbooks and colleges.
April 21, 2023: Jameson Williams among five NFL players suspended for gambling
Detroit Lions players Quintez Cephus and C.J. Moore, along with Washington Commanders player Shaka Toney, received indefinite suspensions for betting on NFL games. Jameson Williams and Stanley Berryhill were suspended for six games for mobile betting activity that occurred at the Lions` team facility, although their bets were not on NFL games.
May 4, 2023: Alabama fires head baseball coach Brad Bohannon after link to suspicious bets
Gambling regulators in Ohio initially halted betting on college baseball games involving Alabama after suspicious wagering activity was detected for a game against LSU. Federal prosecutors alleged that Bert Neff, a businessman, communicated with Bohannon before the game and subsequently placed bets against the Crimson Tide. Alabama fired Bohannon six days after the betting halt.
May 8, 2023: Start of Iowa-Iowa State gambling investigation
The University of Iowa and Iowa State University announced investigations involving over three dozen athletes from multiple sports programs (baseball, football, men`s basketball, men`s track and field, and wrestling), along with one Iowa athletic department employee, suspected of violating NCAA gambling rules.
June 29, 2023: NFL suspends four players (three for betting on their own team)
Indianapolis Colts players Isaiah Rodgers Sr. and Rashod Berry, and free agent Demetrius Taylor, were suspended by the NFL through at least the 2023 season for betting on NFL games in 2022. Rodgers stated his bets were placed for other individuals, whom he declined to name.
Sept. 29, 2023: NFL revises gambling policy
The NFL updated its gambling policies, implementing harsher penalties for players who bet on their own teams (a minimum two-year suspension) or any NFL games (a one-year suspension). Players betting on non-NFL sports from a team facility or during team travel would now face a two-game suspension for a first violation, six games for a second, and at least a year for a third.
Oct 26, 2023: NHL player Shane Pinto suspended 41 games for gambling
Ottawa Senators center Shane Pinto received a 41-game suspension for violating the NHL`s sports wagering policy. Although the specifics remain unclear, reports indicated his online gambling account in the U.S. was flagged by an NHL integrity partner due to unusual activity.
Oct. 27, 2023: Two Korn Ferry Tour golfers suspended for sports betting
Vince India and Jake Staiano, golfers on the PGA Tour`s development circuit, were suspended for three and six months, respectively, for placing bets on PGA Tour competitions. Neither player wagered on tournaments in which they personally competed.
2024
Jan. 25, 2024: Patriots` Kayshon Boutte arrested over illegal betting at LSU
Louisiana State police announced charges against wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, including a felony count of computer fraud and a misdemeanor for gambling while underage. Boutte allegedly used an alias to circumvent age requirements for placing sports wagers in Louisiana between April 2022 and May 2023, while he was 20 and a student-athlete at LSU.
March 8, 2024: Temple reviews reports of unusual gambling activity
Sports integrity firm U.S. Integrity flagged at least one Temple men`s basketball game for unusual betting activity, prompting some sportsbooks, including Caesars Sportsbook and FanDuel, to temporarily halt wagering on the game.
March 12, 2024: Ex-Jaguars employee Amit Patel sentenced for fraud
Amit Patel pleaded guilty to stealing $22 million from the Jacksonville Jaguars organization over a 3½-year period. Patel transferred approximately $20 million to FanDuel and $1 million to DraftKings, using the remainder of the stolen funds for other expenses, largely related to sports betting.
March 20, 2024: Shohei Ohtani`s interpreter Ippei Mizuhara fired amid theft allegations linked to gambling debts
Ippei Mizuhara was fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers after questions arose concerning wire transfers totaling at least $4.5 million sent from Shohei Ohtani`s bank account to a bookmaking operation under federal investigation. A spokesman for Ohtani initially stated that Ohtani had transferred the funds to help cover Mizuhara`s gambling debt.
March 25, 2024: NBA investigates Raptors` Jontay Porter for betting issues
Multiple sources reported that Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter was under investigation by the NBA regarding prop bets placed on games on January 26 and March 20 involving his own performance.
March 27, 2024: NCAA president calls for ban on college prop bets
NCAA President Charlie Baker advocated for a nationwide ban on college sports prop bets. Baker stated this measure was necessary to safeguard “the integrity and competition” of the game and to prevent harassment directed at student and professional athletes.
April 11, 2024: Prosecutors allege Mizuhara stole more than $16 million from Ohtani
Federal authorities filed a criminal complaint accusing Ippei Mizuhara of bank fraud, specifically alleging he stole over $16 million from Shohei Ohtani`s bank account to fund his gambling activities. Prosecutors identified Ohtani as a victim in the case.
April 17, 2024: NBA bans Jontay Porter for life
The NBA announced a lifetime ban for Jontay Porter. The league`s investigation concluded that “Porter violated league rules by disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes, and betting on NBA games.”
June 3, 2024: Padres` Tucupita Marcano faces potential lifetime ban
San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano was reported to be facing a potential lifetime ban from Major League Baseball for betting on baseball games. Information indicated he wagered on games involving the Pittsburgh Pirates when he was a member of that team the previous season.
June 4, 2024: Marcano receives lifetime ban; four other players suspended
MLB announced that Tucupita Marcano was declared permanently ineligible for violating the league`s sports betting rules and policies. Additionally, four other players—Oakland Athletics pitcher Michael Kelly, Padres minor league pitcher Jay Groome, Philadelphia Phillies minor league infielder José Rodríguez, and Arizona Diamondbacks minor league pitcher Andrew Saalfrank—were declared ineligible for one year.
June 14, 2024: MLB disciplines umpire for gambling violation
MLB announced that umpire Pat Hoberg had been disciplined for violating the league`s gambling rules. The specific nature of the violation was not disclosed. Hoberg denied betting on baseball and is appealing the discipline; he had not umpired a game during the season up to that point.
Aug. 15, 2024: Notre Dame suspends men`s swim team for gambling
An external review revealed that members of the Notre Dame men`s swim team violated NCAA rules by wagering on the results of their own competitions and failed to uphold team standards of conduct. This resulted in the suspension of the program for a minimum of one year. Sources indicated athletes established an internal sportsbook within the team for placing wagers but did not bet on competitors or other Notre Dame athletic events.
2025
Jan. 30, 2025: Federal investigators reportedly examining Terry Rozier`s play
Federal prosecutors are reportedly investigating unusual betting patterns related to the performance of guard Terry Rozier in a Charlotte Hornets game from nearly two years prior. This inquiry is said to be part of the same investigation that led to Jontay Porter`s lifetime ban. Rozier, who now plays for the Miami Heat, has not been charged with a crime or accused of wrongdoing. The NBA stated it reviewed the matter at the time and found no league rules were broken.
Feb 22, 2025: NCAA, Fresno State investigate daily fantasy betting allegations
Fresno State and the NCAA are investigating allegations that two men`s basketball players participated in daily fantasy sports contests based on their own performance statistics. Sources indicated that junior forward Mykell Robinson and associates bet and entered contests involving Fresno State games he played in, including wagering on the `under` for Robinson`s points and rebounds. An industry source reported that at least one major U.S. sportsbook saw increased betting interest on Robinson`s prop bets this season. Robinson was removed from the team roster after a game on January 11. Senior guard Jalen Weaver confirmed playing a daily fantasy contest on his points total in a game on December 31, risking $50 on exceeding 11 points (he scored 13). A third player, sophomore guard Zaon Collins, was held out of a game on Saturday for allegedly betting on professional sports, according to multiple sources. Fresno State issued a statement saying Weaver and Collins were withheld from competition pending review of an eligibility matter.
June 29, 2025: Pistons` Malik Beasley reportedly subject of federal gambling probe
Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley is reportedly under federal investigation regarding alleged gambling activities related to NBA games and prop bets. The allegations pertain to the 2023-24 season when Beasley played for the Milwaukee Bucks. He averaged 11.3 points and started a career-high 77 games that season. A gambling industry source noted unusually heavy betting interest on Beasley`s statistics starting around January 2024, pointing to a game on January 31, 2024, against the Portland Trail Blazers. Odds on Beasley recording fewer than 2.5 rebounds saw significant movement due to a surge of bets on the under, although he finished with six rebounds, causing those unusual bets to lose.
“An investigation is not a charge,” Beasley`s attorney stated. “Malik is afforded the same right of the presumption of innocence as anyone else under the U.S. Constitution. As of now he has not been charged with anything.”
Wesley Dunham