15 Former NCAA Players Charged in College Basketball Game-Rigging Scheme
A wide-ranging betting scheme involving 26 individuals, including over a dozen college basketball players, has been uncovered by federal prosecutors, encompassing both NCAA and Chinese Basketball Association games. The scheme involved gamblers recruiting players to intentionally underperform in games in exchange for payment, allowing fixers to bet against their teams and defraud sportsbooks. The investigation, labeled an “international criminal conspiracy,” reveals that players were offered payments ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 per game. The indictment details the scheme’s growth from two Chinese Basketball Association games to over 29 rigged or attempted rigged NCAA games involving more than 39 players across 17 Division I teams, with millions of dollars wagered and substantial proceeds earned.
John Q. Hosedrinker