The biggest gambling scandals in professional sports

Sports betting has been in the spotlight for many years, showing great growth and potential for the online industry. It seems gambling and sports work very well together, but we can’t ignore the negative impact they can have on one another.

The Black Sox scandal (1919)

This scandal has remained a stain etched on the world of baseball. Back in 1919, eight players from the Chicago White Sox were caught attempting to fix the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. The scandal quickly came to light when players were accused of intentionally losing games for a quick payday. Some of the key players in the scandal included ‘Shoeless’ Joe Jackson and Eddie Cicotte.

The newly appointed commissioner of baseball, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, investigated, after which all eight players were banned from baseball for life. The scandal led to significant reforms within the sports, which meant a stricter approach to players and referees.

Pete Rose (1989)

Then we have Pete Rose, one of baseball’s greatest hitters. He got caught betting on baseball games while managing the Cincinnati Reds. While he denied the allegations at the time, he finally admitted to betting on his team in 2004.

In 1989, Rose was banned from baseball for life. The scandal overshadowed everything, even his biggest achievements, like being one of the greatest hitters in sports. Aside from his own achievements getting lost in the scandal, stricter rules were also established in Major League Baseball.

Match fixing in soccer (2006)

This was also known as the Calciopoli scandal, and it involved some of the top Italian soccer clubs, including AC Milan, Fiorentina, and Juventus. The club officials were accused of selecting favourable referees to influence the match outcomes.

In turn, Juventus was stripped of their 2005 and 2006 Serie A titles and relegated to Serie B. The other clubs also faced penalties, and there was a reform in the process of assigning and monitoring referees.

Tim Donaghy (2007)

This NBA referee was implicated in a gambling scandal involving betting activity on games he officiated. According to sources, he was believed to provide insider information to gamblers that would influence the betting outcome.

Donaghy pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to transmit wagering information. He received a 15-month prison sentence. Again, the scandal placed referees and NBA officials under the spotlight.

IAAF and athletics (2015)

At the end of the day, we saw several IAAF officials resigning. On top of that, some anti-doping measures were re-evaluated to clean up the industry. Some light in the situation is that it brought to light the big need for transparency and integrity.

The Sandro Tonali scandal (2023)

One of the more recent scandals involves the Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali. He was accused of placing bets on games involving his former club, which in turn raised concerns regarding the integrity of the sport as well as his role as a player.

The investigation by Italian authorities and football governing bodies led to scrutiny of not just his actions but also bigger implications for football betting.

The incident is another highlight moment for the ongoing challenges all sports sectors face. There is a clear and strict need to adhere to rules and maintain the integrity of the game.

Other scandals worth the mention

Another relatively big scandal was in College Basketball. Known as the 1951 CCNY scandal, it was among the first major points-shaving scandals within college basketball. A number of players from the City College of New York were implicated in game fixing to ultimately benefit gamblers.

The scandal resulted in a massive investigation of college athletics, which saw several players banned from sports. NCAA regulations were also reformated in an effort to combat corruption and protect these student athletes.

Make it clear

While one could argue that players involved in said scandals did not fully grasp the implications of their actions, there are some factors to keep in mind.

First, all professional athletes are well informed regarding the regulations that dictate their conduct. This includes the rules regarding betting on your own sport. You will also find several leagues and organisations providing further education and information on these topics.

Not to mention that all gambling scandals and their consequences for the industry and the players are well-publicised. Nothing is done in the dark, painting a clear picture of what players can expect should they go down this road.

New forms of playing are becoming more and more popular—from fantasy sports betting to eSports gambling—and the need for a clean and fair industry is now larger than ever!

We can be grateful that these scandals were brought to light instead of handled in the dark. With the repercussions of said action being a clear indication to both future players and bettors of what can happen when you attempt to break or bend the rules.

Considering the number of players who received a lifetime ban from sports and saw their achievements fade into nothingness because of the scandals, one can only hope it serves as inspiration and motivation to steer clear of the dirty and adhere to regulations. Enabling all to enjoy good, clean online betting on top sports like football, basketball and baseball.