NCAA Players, Gamblers Charged in Betting Scandal/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Federal prosecutors have charged 26 individuals, including NCAA players and gamblers, in a wide-reaching game-fixing conspiracy. The group allegedly rigged NCAA and Chinese Basketball Association games to profit from fraudulent bets. Authorities say the scheme compromised the integrity of college sports and may involve more participants as investigations continue.
NCAA Game-Fixing Scandal Quick Looks
- 26 people indicted in game-fixing scheme, including over a dozen NCAA players
- Games from NCAA Division I and Chinese Basketball Association were rigged
- Players were paid $10K–$30K to underperform in games
- At least 29 games from 17 NCAA teams were targeted
- Fixers bribed players and placed fraudulent bets for millions in winnings
- NCAA President says investigations are underway at most involved schools
- Some games included playoff matchups in Horizon and Southland conferences
- Former NBA player Antonio Blakeney named in the indictment
Deep Look: NCAA Players, Gamblers Charged in Betting Scandal
Federal prosecutors have unsealed a sweeping indictment implicating 26 individuals—including more than a dozen NCAA Division I basketball players and several professional gamblers—in a complex scheme to rig basketball games and defraud sportsbooks. The case, centered in Philadelphia, includes games played as recently as the 2024–2025 college season and stretches as far back as the Chinese Basketball Association’s 2022–2023 season.
U.S. Attorney David Metcalf described the investigation as exposing an “international criminal conspiracy” that compromised the core principles of athletic integrity. According to the indictment, fixers bribed players to manipulate outcomes by underperforming during games while placing coordinated bets against their own teams. The operation, authorities say, raked in significant illicit profits while defrauding legal sportsbooks and honest bettors.
How the Scheme Worked
At the center of the conspiracy were five primary fixers—three of whom had direct access to athletes through coaching and training ties, and two who acted as gamblers and sports handicappers. The scheme began with two rigged games in China’s CBA in 2023 and later expanded into NCAA Division I basketball by early 2024.
Federal investigators say more than 39 players across at least 17 Division I programs were involved in rigging or attempting to rig over 29 games. In exchange for deliberately affecting the outcomes, players received payments ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 per game. Some matches were playoff games, including rounds in the Horizon League and Southland Conference championships.
To recruit new participants, fixers would often share images of large stacks of cash via text messages. In one example, a fixer texted a Saint Louis University player a photo with instructions to send it to a teammate:
“send that to him if he bite he bite if he don’t so be it lol.” Another fixer trying to persuade an Eastern Michigan player to involve teammates wrote, “bro let me send 3k right now… a band for each of y’all so you know I ain’t joking.”
Cash was typically delivered in person, though one Alabama State University player who participated in fixing a game against Southern Mississippi reportedly never received the promised payment.
Named Players and Teams
While many players were unnamed in the indictment, four were publicly identified: Simeon Cottle, Carlos Hart, Oumar Koureissi, and Camian Shell—all of whom had played for their college teams recently. Prosecutors clarified that the alleged conduct pertains to the 2023–2024 season and not current NCAA play.
In total, 15 of the defendants played during the 2024–2025 NCAA season, five last played during 2023–2024, and one, former NBA player Antonio Blakeney, participated in the Chinese Basketball Association during the 2022–2023 season.
Blakeney is accused of receiving nearly $200,000 in bribe money and betting profits, which prosecutors say were stored in a Florida locker at the end of the CBA season.
Wider Impact and NCAA Response
The indictment lists over 40 colleges and universities whose games were implicated in the scheme. Among them were Tulane University and DePaul University. NCAA President Charlie Baker issued a statement emphasizing the organization’s commitment to upholding the integrity of college athletics. He confirmed that the NCAA is either actively investigating or has completed investigations into most of the programs named.
“This type of conduct threatens everything college sports stands for,” Baker said, while reaffirming cooperation with federal authorities.
Rise in Sports Gambling and Risks
The case is the latest in a string of sports betting scandals that have surfaced since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized sports gambling in 2018. That ruling led to a rapid expansion of legalized sports betting nationwide, but also raised concerns about the potential for abuse.
Recent headlines have included NCAA lifetime bans for at least 10 players over betting violations and federal charges against Major League Baseball players accused of accepting bribes.
This case underlines those fears, with prosecutors warning that the corruption of college athletics through bribery and betting manipulation could severely erode public trust in the games.
In one text cited by prosecutors, a fixer reassured a colleague about betting on Chinese games, saying, “There are no guarantees in this world but death, taxes, and Chinese basketball.”
What’s Next
The charges filed include conspiracy, bribery, and wire fraud. Prosecutors say the investigation is ongoing, and more charges could be filed as new evidence emerges.
Authorities are urging anyone with knowledge of similar schemes or who suspects game-fixing to come forward, stressing that the long-term health of competitive sports depends on accountability.
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