Beasley’s Gambling Charges Put NBA Integrity Back Under Federal Spotlight, Indictment Alleges Betting Scheme Around NBA Game Performance
The NBA is facing another gambling scandal after veteran guard Malik Beasley was indicted on federal charges tied to an alleged sports betting scheme involving game manipulation, prop bets and inside information.
Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn unsealed an indictment Monday charging Beasley, former NBA player Edward Davis, current NBA agent Paolo Zamorano and three other defendants with wire fraud conspiracy, bribery in sporting contests, honest services wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. Prosecutors allege the group worked to bribe Beasley to manipulate his performance in NBA games so others could place fraudulent wagers.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, the alleged scheme involved wagers worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and centered on inside information about Beasley’s intended performance. The government claims Beasley was used as the player whose statistics could be influenced for betting purposes.
Beasley Expected To Voluntarily Surrender
Beasley’s attorney, Steve Haney, told ESPN that the former NBA guard is coordinating with federal authorities to voluntarily surrender this week. ESPN reported that Davis and several co-defendants were arrested Monday, while Beasley and Zamorano were not in custody as of Monday morning.
The charges remain allegations, and Beasley is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Beasley, a first-round pick by the Denver Nuggets in 2016, played nine seasons in the NBA. He most recently suited up for the Detroit Pistons during the 2024-25 season before later playing professionally in Puerto Rico.
Also Read: Terry Rozier Must Forfeit Most of His $26 Million NBA Salary, Arbitrator Rules
Prosecutors Say Prop Bets And Performance Manipulation Were Central
The indictment accuses Beasley of altering or agreeing to alter aspects of his performance during games while he was with the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2023-24 NBA season.
Reuters reported that prosecutors allege Beasley manipulated his performance in at least three Bucks games and accepted bribes connected to gambling debts owed to Davis, his former Minnesota Timberwolves teammate.
The case is another warning sign for professional sports leagues now operating in a world where legal sports betting is everywhere, from phone apps to in-game advertising. Prop bets, which allow gamblers to wager on individual player statistics, have become one of the biggest concerns because they can place pressure on specific moments inside a game rather than just the final score.
NBA Faces Growing Sports Betting Scrutiny
The indictment arrives as the NBA continues dealing with the fallout of recent gambling-related cases. Former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter was previously banned for life by the NBA after a league investigation found he disclosed confidential health information and limited his own participation in at least one game for betting purposes.
Now, the Beasley case puts the league back under scrutiny as federal prosecutors allege another player’s performance may have been targeted for profit.
Major League Baseball has also dealt with gambling controversy in recent years, including the scandal involving Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Shohei Ohtani, who pleaded guilty in 2024 to bank and tax fraud after stealing millions from Ohtani to cover gambling losses.
