A suspected gambling syndicate currently facing federal scrutiny for involvement in two NBA betting inquiries is also connected to unconventional betting patterns associated with at least three men’s college basketball teams this season, according to recent reports.
Sources indicate that accounts tied to this gambling network placed wagers against Eastern Michigan, Mississippi Valley State, and North Carolina A&T, highlighting concerns over unusual betting activities in college sports.
In a related incident, three players from North Carolina A&T were suspended indefinitely last week for unspecified violations of team rules. However, it’s unclear if their suspension is linked to the ongoing gambling investigation, as stated by the men’s basketball coach, Monté Ross.
In addition to college basketball, these sportsbook accounts have reportedly engaged in significant betting on prop bets involving former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter in two games during the current NBA season, along with then-Charlotte Hornets player Terry Rozier in 2023.
Jontay Porter has openly acknowledged that he manipulated his performance in games for gambling reasons and has since received a lifetime ban from the NBA. On the other hand, Terry Rozier publicly declined to provide comments regarding the inquiry into suspicious betting associated with his performance.
Notably, the accounts linked to the gambling ring also wagered on a Temple University game that had previously raised suspicions of irregular betting last March.
In a statement, the NCAA expressed its seriousness regarding sports betting and emphasized its commitment to safeguarding student-athlete welfare and maintaining the integrity of competitive sports. The NCAA collaborates with integrity-monitoring services and state regulators to appropriately vet any reports of suspicious activities. However, confidentiality regulations restrict the NCAA from commenting on ongoing or potential investigations due to the privacy agreements of its member institutions.
The rise of legalized sports betting has raised alarms over the increased pressure on athletes, as well as the potential for misconduct. In 2023, a state investigation into illegal sports wagering led to criminal charges against around two dozen athletes from Iowa State and Iowa, although several charges were subsequently dismissed after misuse of tracking software was revealed regarding open mobile betting applications in Iowa State facilities.
In the same year, Alabama’s baseball coach was dismissed amid an investigation into dubious bets connected to a game involving the Crimson Tide at LSU.
