The rotten history of professional sports in America provides a graveyard worth of gambling scandals. These scandals have soured the integrity of many leagues. Since the post-war years, the Federal League on players, coaches and umpires have come to light. These shocking announcements are only a few examples of how pervasive sports betting seems to be in these organizations. This piece provides a timeline of important moments in sports gambling unfolds thus far. It further offers a snapshot of notable figures, assessing their consequences.
In 1946, star hockey player Walter “Babe” Pratt experienced a significant episode. He ultimately was given a nine-game suspension for betting on the outcomes of hockey games. This case was one of the first professional sport’s major scandals. It helped to illustrate that even in the infancy of structured professional leagues, gambling was one of the most insidious threats to the integrity of the game.
In 1954, Jack Molinas was caught in a point-shaving scandal. He was a former Columbia University player that had been drafted by the Fort Wayne Pistons in the first round of the 1953 NBA Draft. His close ties to gambling not only sent up huge red flags, but created a dangerous precedent for athletes to come.
By 1961, Molinas’s long con was coming home to roost. Between 1959 and 1961, he bribed players to throw college game results. Because of this, he was convicted and sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison. This case highlighted the disturbing opportunities for corruption within college athletics. More than anything, it exposed how deep the depths some will sink to for monetary profit.
In 1963, the NFL faced an existential crisis. It suspended two very high-profile players, defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions Alex Karras and halfback for the Green Bay Packers Paul Hornung, one year. Their violation of league gambling policy transcended just improper conduct on the players’ part—it called the entire league’s ability to protect its integrity into question.
In the mid-80s, John “Hot Rod” Williams was in big trouble. He was embroiled in two trials related to betting scandals during his first career at Tulane University. His legal battles followed him into his career in basketball. This personal bleeding added layers and context to his legacy as an athlete.
After all, in 1989 baseball faced one of its greatest scandals. Pete Rose, then manager of the Cincinnati Reds, was handed a lifetime ban by commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti. Rose confessed to placing bets on baseball games during his own team’s season. This unexpected admission resulted in national outcry and distrust among the players and officials alike.
The issue persisted into the 21st century. In 2006, Rick Tocchet, an assistant coach with the Phoenix Coyotes, was placed on leave amid allegations that he financed a nationwide gambling ring. This incident once again brought gambling into the spotlight, emphasizing that it was not merely a player issue but affected coaching staff.
In 2007, the scandal took an unexpected turn. The Bureau had originally contacted the NBA with claims that one of its most veteran referees, Tim Donaghy, was betting on the exact games he was officiating. Donaghy resigned and eventually pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. What Nestor did was show just how fragile trust can be in professional leagues.
As gambling became more accepted into the mainstream, further legalized in states across the country, the punishments for violations continued to change. In 2022, New York Jets wide receivers coach Miles Austin was suspended for gambling on non-NFL sports. The fallout from this incident served to reinforce the idea that no member of the coaching staff is untouchable.
Additionally, already in 2023, at least five players have been punished for breaching league gambling policies. Ottawa Senators player Shane Pinto recently received a 41-game suspension for betting-related misconduct. Concurrently, Detroit Lions wide receivers Jameson Williams, Quintez Cephus, Stanley Berryhill, and safety C.J. Moore were suspended alongside Washington Commanders defensive end Shaka Toney for similar violations.
By 2024, that trend reversed course in a big way when Jontay Porter became the NBA’s fourth G-League ban. His subsequent indictment accused him of leaking insider knowledge to sports gamblers in addition to deliberately tanking games for their profit. These moves did nothing except compound the public distrust when it came to the integrity of professional sports.
Looking ahead to 2025, an extensive FBI investigation identified both current and former NBA players along with a coach involved in alleged fixed-game betting scandals. This still-unfolding investigation points to extremely troubling evidence of how organized crime could seek to infiltrate the world of professional sports.
In February 2025, ex-MLB umpire Pat Hoberg was in danger of losing his job. As reality would have it, he lost his appeal after having broken league gambling rules. His firing sent a message about how seriously leagues are starting to take gambling-related infractions.
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