The introduction of regulated sports betting into the mainstream has altered how consumers consume sports and leagues sell their products.
For better or worse, sports and gambling are inextricably linked, making investigations into unlawful betting all the more difficult.
According to ESPN’s David Purdum, two NBA instances involve betting on at least three college basketball schools, prompting a federal probe into a gambling ring.
Sportsbook accounts linked to the gambling ring placed wagers against North Carolina A&T, Mississippi Valley State, and Eastern Michigan.
These accounts also bet on Jontay Porter, a Toronto Raptors player who was suspended from the NBA for life in April for breaking the league’s gambling policies.
Bets were also put on games involving Terry Rozier in 2023 while he was playing for the Charlotte Hornets.
Porter later admitted that he manipulated his performance to influence betting. Rozier has reluctant to speak about the investigation into betting on his performance.
Following the findings, the NCAA issued a comment.
“The NCAA takes sports betting extremely seriously and is dedicated to ensuring the safety of student-athletes and the integrity of competition. The Association collaborates with integrity monitoring agencies, state regulators, and other stakeholders to do necessary due diligence when suspicious complaints are received. Due to confidentiality requirements imposed by NCAA member schools, the NCAA will not comment on current or potential investigations.”
The NBA has already cleared Rozier, and he has not faced any criminal charges.
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