Basketball appears to be highly vulnerable to betting manipulation: the latest alleged scheme in the NCAA has shown how easily game outcomes can be influenced.
U.S. prosecutors have charged 26 individuals in connection with an alleged international scheme to fix games in NCAA Division I men’s basketball and the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).
According to authorities, the scheme, revealed on January 15, involved players, alumni, and professional bettors who allegedly bribed athletes to underperform, affecting game results and generating millions in wagers.
Among the accused are Jalen Smith, Marves Fairley, Shane Hennen, Antonio Blakeney, Roderick Winkler, and Alberto Laureano. They are accused of recruiting players in both the U.S. and China to participate in schemes involving deliberate “point-shaving.”
“Point-shaving” is when players intentionally reduce their team’s margin of victory. The team may still win the game, but the outcome is manipulated so that bettors can profit from the point spread.
“These bets are far more serious than any ordinary game ticket,” said U.S. Attorney David Metcalf at a press conference in Philadelphia.
“The charges involve corruption in collegiate sports through an international conspiracy of NCAA players, alumni, and professional bettors. When criminal actions threaten such a central institution of American life, the Department of Justice acts swiftly.”
The Philadelphia Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) led a two-year investigation, which authorities say uncovered bribes ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 per game. According to the indictment, the fixers targeted underdog teams and individual players for whom the payments would meaningfully supplement Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation.
Prosecutors claim the defendants fixed or attempted to fix more than 29 NCAA games and a series of CBA contests, placing bets totaling millions of dollars.
The Scheme in Action
According to the indictment, the scheme began in September 2022 with the CBA. Defendants Fairley and Hennen allegedly recruited players to underperform, instructing them to prevent their teams from covering the spread and then placing large bets against those teams.
One of the top scorers for the Jiangsu Dragons, Blakeney, is accused of participating in the scheme and recruiting teammates. Federal authorities say nearly $200,000 in bribes and proceeds from the CBA scheme were later stored in a Florida storage unit belonging to Blakeney.
After allegedly profiting in China, the organizers turned to the NCAA, enlisting Smith, Winkler, and Laureano to target collegiate players.
The defendants reportedly met in person and used social media, text messages, and calls, offering bribes ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 per game to influence outcomes. Payments were reportedly made in cash on campuses, with bets placed to profit from the players’ underperformance. Authorities say the scheme generated substantial profits for both the organizers and the participating athletes.
Court Proceedings
The 26 defendants are set to appear in federal court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Prosecutors will seek penalties for bribery in sporting contests and wire fraud. Bribery carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, while charges of fraud and conspiracy could bring up to 20 years behind bars.
Authorities have warned that additional arrests or charges could follow as the investigation continues.
Basketball Under Scrutiny
Late last year, the U.S. sports world was rocked by betting scandals involving MLB and UFC. However, the most high-profile cases occurred in the NBA, when Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups were arrested.
Prosecutors accused Rozier of helping manipulate player-prop bets by tipping off associates that he would leave a Hornets game early in 2023, generating tens of thousands of dollars in illicit profits. Billups, meanwhile, is accused of participating in illegal poker games backed by organized crime.
Both were suspended by the NBA and remain under strict bail and travel restrictions, including a ban on gambling.
The rapid succession of these cases highlights basketball’s particular vulnerability to manipulation.
With only five players per team on the court, a single compromised athlete can influence the flow of a game far more than in sports like football. High scoring and frequent possessions also make subtle mistakes, turnovers, or slowed pacing less noticeable, while point spreads remain highly sensitive.
The NBA appears to recognize its vulnerability and is taking steps to strengthen integrity safeguards. Policy reviews and internal investigations are underway, including re-examining injury-reporting rules, upgrading integrity-monitoring systems, and educating players and staff on the risks of gambling.
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