Shipley: Sports and gambling, strange and terrible bed fellows
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**Analysis: Sports Gambling Scandals and the Future of Professional Sports**
Former Timberwolves point guard and current Portland Trailblazers head coach Chauncey Billups was arrested by the FBI on Thursday as part of a federal investigation into illegal gambling that implicated more than 30 people. Alleged crimes include rigged poker games and trading inside NBA information with sports bettors.
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was also arrested, accused of sharing inside NBA information with bettors and, at least once, “manipulating his performance” in a game to benefit sports bettors.
While these revelations are serious, they might not come as a surprise to many.
Professional sports leagues, and even some individual franchises, are eager to capitalize on legal sportsbooks. Ads for DraftKings and FanDuel are a frequent presence during Vikings, Timberwolves, or Wild games. The Wild and Wolves are televised by the FanDuel Network, and the Wild play in the Grand Casino Arena.
Athletes are cautioned against involvement in sports betting, but the lucrative sponsorship deals suggest this warning is somewhat tongue-in-cheek.
It might seem unfair, but NFL players aren’t banned from endorsing brands like Chili’s or Chevrolet.
Sports gambling remains illegal in Minnesota, despite several legislative attempts to change that, most recently last spring. Locals can circumvent this to some extent through online prediction markets, but Minnesota stands as an outlier. Like the stubborn Sunday blue laws, sports gambling will likely prevail in Minnesota eventually.
Even the NCAA is adjusting to the times. From November 1, it will allow athletes and athletic department staff to bet on professional sports. However, betting on college sports or sharing inside information with bettors remains prohibited.
Given these changes, it’s not surprising to anticipate that the final amateurism holdout might partner with a sportsbook by next summer. This could potentially be preferable to other funding sources, such as private equity—which college football programs are considering to help finance the $20.5 million in athlete payments.
This is a troubling prospect. Soon, analysts might advise universities to sell off baseball and softball stadiums to meet funding requirements.
Billups’ arrest was unrelated to sports performance; he is accused of involvement with rigged poker games tied to organized crime—a serious blemish on the NBA’s image.
More concerning is Rozier’s alleged act of faking an injury to influence game outcomes while with the Charlotte Hornets.
The biggest risk with sports gambling is the potential erosion of fans’ trust. If people begin to believe games are fixed, they may lose interest in supporting their favorite teams.
However, fantasy football has long helped maintain interest in the NFL, even during difficult periods. The leagues understand that sports betting plays a significant role in sustaining viewership.
Should fans doubt the legitimacy of contests, fantasy sports provide an alternative interest—fans may watch a game just to see if a particular player scores a touchdown, regardless of the final team result.
Looking ahead, we might see prop bets on trivial or even embarrassing moments, like missed layups, fumbles, or sudden injuries.
Serious bettors, unlike regular fans, typically don’t care which team wins; they focus on bets themselves. This raises the question: can major leagues like the NBA, NFL, NHL, and NCAA survive if their fanbases adopt such detached relationships?
Partnering with legal sportsbooks does not guarantee rampant gambling scandals, but it does send a message: betting on sports is a central and growing part of the leagues’ business model.
Time will tell how this evolving relationship affects the integrity and future of professional sports.
https://www.twincities.com/2025/10/23/sports-gambling-in-bed-together-fans-jeopardy/
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