Published on: October 19, 2025, 02:37h.
Updated on: October 19, 2025, 02:37h.
As the NCAA men’s college basketball season approaches in early November, the discussion surrounding the rise of sports betting in this arena intensifies. An ESPN investigation into unauthorized gambling highlights the potential dangers that come with the convergence of sports and wagering.
Investigation into Beasley
Occasionally, news stories bring critical attention to issues in the world of sports betting. Fans of the NBA are now familiar with the name Jontay Porter, a former Toronto Raptor flagged for life due to betting on NBA games and point shaving, which included matches involving his own team.
Furthermore, ESPN reported in June that Malik Beasley, currently a free agent, is under scrutiny in a federal gambling investigation. Last season, Beasley inked a one-year deal with the Detroit Pistons and had a standout year, averaging 16.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game, with hopes of securing a multi-year contract. He is now awaiting full clearance from the NBA to continue his career.
Suspicious Gambling Patterns Reported
On October 10, Beasley mentioned, “The NBA is conducting its own investigation. The FBI has cleared me, and I respect the league’s process. Does it frustrate me? Certainly. I’m just eager to get back to playing. Hopeful for an update soon.”
An ESPN investigation into college basketball betting revealed that legitimate sportsbooks in the U.S. and Canada flagged numerous suspicious wagers from gamblers consistently betting against the same smaller conference teams in at least 11 games over six weeks last season.
These games, which were under the radar of an alleged betting syndicate, took place between early December 2024 and mid-January 2025, as the NCAA and federal officials probe whether players and insiders are tampering with game results.
Steady Stream of Betting Activity
As various states in the U.S. legalize sports wagering, a significant share of that betting revenue has shifted toward college sports, particularly basketball—second only to football. While a betting frenzy typically arises during March Madness, college basketball games are held several times a week, offering consistent wagering opportunities.
The ESPN article cited IC360, a global technology platform focused on integrity and regulatory solutions in sports betting, which tracks unusual betting patterns through sportsbooks. Unusual betting behavior included substantial bets placed consistently against the same teams.
Notably, bettors would often appear with new sportsbook accounts or return after lengthy breaks to place noticeably large or consecutive wagers on first-half spreads of games as highlighted in the ESPN reporting.
Significant Betting Irregularities
One sportsbook identified Marves Fairley from Mississippi as the “main suspect” in this syndicate, although Fairley dismissed any claims of wrongdoing when approached by ESPN. This scenario involves five of the six colleges linked to 13 former players who are currently being investigated for their roles in gambling schemes: Eastern Michigan, Temple, New Orleans, North Carolina A&T, and Mississippi Valley State.
Could we be observing just a glimpse of a larger issue that is more prevalent than most realize, with hundreds of games and thousands of collegiate athletes and gamblers, leading to a landscape so vast it becomes nearly impossible to monitor effectively?
The ESPN report indicated that indictments may soon follow.