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17 Players Charged in Massive Sports Betting Fraud
15 Jan
Summary
- Seventeen basketball players were charged in a large point-shaving scheme.
- The scheme fixed games in both the NCAA and Chinese Basketball Association.
- Bribe payments ranged from $10,000 to $30,000 per game.
Federal prosecutors have charged 17 basketball players in a sweeping point-shaving scheme that manipulated outcomes in both NCAA and Chinese Basketball Association games. The indictment, unsealed recently in Philadelphia, alleges this fraud persisted from September 2022 through February 2025, involving 20 defendants in total.
Players were reportedly paid significant bribes, between $10,000 and $30,000 per game, to intentionally play poorly. This allowed gamblers to win bets, while sportsbooks and honest bettors suffered losses. Former college All-American Antonio Blakeney is among those implicated, accused of being recruited into the scheme.
The operation initially focused on the Chinese Basketball Association before shifting to NCAA men's basketball. This case is considered one of the most serious betting fraud investigations involving college basketball in recent years, with the legal proceedings still ongoing.
