Black Sox, Ohtani's Interpreter & More: Unveiling Major Sports Betting Scandals

Betting scandals have long been a concern for professional sports leagues, but the landscape has changed significantly since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal law in May 2018 that had previously restricted sports betting in most states. This ruling paved the way for online sportsbooks to become more integrated into the sports ecosystem, leading to an increase in gambling-related incidents involving athletes and officials.

Here is a look at some of the most notable betting scandals in professional sports:

Historical Scandals

1. Black Sox Scandal (1920)
   In 1920, eight members of the Chicago White Sox were indicted for fixing the 1919 World Series. Known as the "Black Sox Scandal," this incident led to the permanent ban of players like "Shoeless" Joe Jackson by baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Although they were acquitted in court, their bans remained until 2025 when Commissioner Rob Manfred reinstated Jackson.

2. Babe Pratt Suspension (1946)
   Hockey Hall of Famer Babe Pratt was suspended for gambling, marking one of the earliest high-profile cases in the NHL. The league warned that further infractions could result in a lifetime suspension.

3. Billy Taylor and Don Gallinger (1948)
   These two NHL players received lifetime bans for betting on hockey games, highlighting the severity of penalties for gambling violations.

4. College Basketball Fixing (1951)
   A scandal involved 35 players accused of fixing over 80 games between 1947 and 1951. This led to the cancellation of Kentucky’s 1952-53 season after an NCAA investigation found violations.

5. Totonero Scandal (1980)
   In Italy, two soccer teams were relegated, and five others faced penalties due to match-fixing. Paolo Rossi was banned for two years for his involvement while playing for Perugia.

6. Basketball Game Fixing (1981)
   Rick Kuhn and others were convicted for conspiring to fix basketball games during the 1978-79 season, including connections with New York mobster Jimmy Burke.

7. Tulane Basketball Suspension (1985)
   Tulane suspended its basketball program due to allegations of point-shaving and other misconduct. The team resumed play in 1989.

8. Pete Rose Ban (1989)
   Pete Rose, MLB’s all-time hits leader, accepted a lifetime ban after an investigation found he bet on the Cincinnati Reds from 1985-87. His eligibility for the Hall of Fame was cleared in 2025.

9. Boston College Football Players (1996)
   Thirteen Boston College football players were suspended for gambling, including two who bet against their team. Coach Dan Henning resigned after reporting the allegations.

10. Rick Tocchet Probation (2007)
    Philadelphia Flyers coach Rick Tocchet was placed on probation for conspiracy and promoting gambling. He was later reinstated by the NHL.

Modern Scandals

1. Tim Donaghy (2008)
   NBA referee Tim Donaghy pleaded guilty to wire fraud and transmitting betting information, leading to a 15-month prison sentence.

2. Rob Howley (2019)
   Wales rugby captain Rob Howley was suspended for 18 months after placing 363 bets, including on Wales’ Six Nations game against Ireland.

3. Kieran Trippier (2021)
   England defender Kieran Trippier was banned for 10 weeks after sharing insider information about his potential transfer.

4. NFL Gambling Violations
   At least 15 NFL players have been suspended for gambling, starting with Paul Hornung and Alex Karras in 1963. Calvin Ridley was suspended in 2022 for betting on NFL games.

5. Brazil Soccer Match-Fixing (2023)
   Brazil’s lower house of Congress opened a probe into a match-fixing scandal involving players allegedly taking bribes for bookings and penalties.

6. Phil Mickelson (2023)
   Phil Mickelson was alleged to have wagered over $1 billion in a book written by gambler Billy Walters. He denied betting on the 2012 Ryder Cup.

7. Soccer Player Bans (2023)
   Ivan Toney, Sandro Tonali, and Nicolò Fagioli faced bans for gambling. Fagioli was banned for seven months, while Tonali served a 10-month suspension.

8. Shane Pinto (2023)
   NHL player Shane Pinto received a 41-game suspension for sports gambling, though no evidence of betting on hockey was found.

9. Ippei Mizuhara (2024)
   Los Angeles Dodgers interpreter Ippei Mizuhara was fired after being linked to illegal bookmakers. He later pleaded guilty to fraud, using Ohtani’s money for gambling.

10. Jontay Porter (2024)
    Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter was banned for life after disclosing confidential information to bettors and wagering on games, including betting on the Raptors to lose.

11. Tucupita Marcano (2024)
    San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano was banned for life for betting on baseball. He became the first active player in a century to face such a punishment.

12. Pat Hoberg (2025)
    MLB umpire Pat Hoberg was fired for sharing his legal sports gambling accounts with a friend and deleting messages relevant to an investigation.

13. Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase (2025)
    Cleveland Guardians pitchers Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase were placed on paid leave as part of a sports betting investigation.

14. NCAA Investigation (2025)
    The NCAA investigated 13 former men’s basketball players for potential violations of sports betting rules, including betting on and against their own teams.