Sports betting can add excitement to the games we love, but when athletes, coaches, or officials get involved it can tarnish the integrity of sports. Here are 10 of the most shocking sports betting scandals of all time.
Rick Tocchet
In 2006, NHL assistant coach Rick Tocchet was implicated in a gambling ring that allegedly involved several prominent figures. Known as “Operation Slap Shot,” Tocchet pleaded guilty to promoting gambling but ended up avoiding jail time.
Tim Donaghy
In 2007, referee Tim Donaghy was found guilty of betting on games he officiated. In fact, Donaghy claimed he provided insider tips to gamblers and even manipulated calls to influence game outcomes.
Paul Hornung and Alex Karras
NFL stars Paul Hornung and Alex Karras were suspended for the 1963 season after admitting to placing bets on NFL games. However, despite the scandal, both players were eventually reinstated.
Arizona State
In 1994, Arizona State University basketball players were caught shaving points in games. In fact, the scandal involved large sums of money and spanned over multiple games.
Juventus
In 2006, soccer team Juventus and other Serie A teams were found guilty of match-fixing to influence refereeing decisions. As punishment, Juventus was stripped of league titles and relegated to Serie B.
Boston College
A group of Boston College basketball players in 1978 conspired with mobsters to manipulate game scores for betting purposes. In fact, the scandal actually came to light when mobster Henry Hill testified about the scheme in court.
Black Sox Scandal
Arguably the most infamous betting scandal in sports history, eight members of the Chicago White Sox were accused of conspiring with gamblers to fix the 1919 World Series. But, while the players were acquitted in court, they were banned from baseball for life.
Read More: The 10 Biggest Sports Scandals In History
Shane Warne and Mark Waugh
Australian cricket legends Shane Warne and Mark Waugh were accused of providing pitch and weather information to bookmakers in exchange for money. Though they denied any match-fixing, the scandal certainly didn’t help their reputations.
Read More: 15 Olympic Scandals That Rocked the World
New York Giants
Before the NFL’s rise to prominence, the New York Giants were embroiled in a gambling scandal involving players allegedly taking bribes to throw games. Though details remain murky, it proves gambling has existed in football from the very beginning.
Read More: The 17 Biggest Steroid Scandals in Sports
Pete Rose
Baseball great Pete Rose was banned for life after it was discovered he bet on games as both a player and manager. While Rose claims he never bet against his team, the scandal has kept him out of the Hall of Fame.
Read More: Pete Rose: The Controversial Legacy of One of Baseball’s Greatest Players
