The NBA has been rocked by one of its biggest gambling scandals, and as the dust settles, fans and bettors are diving into a controversial new betting market.
Online sportsbook BetOnline.ag has rolled out a series of prop bets tied to the scandal, ranging from serious speculation about legal consequences to more far-fetched wagers on who might be next to face scrutiny.
While the situation is undeniably serious, the betting world has added its own layer of intrigue. The irony and the tangled web involved in wagering on who will be banned for gambling.
At the heart of the prop bets are two sobering questions about Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier, who are currently entangled in the gambling controversy. The first prop asks: Who will receive a longer sentence? The odds favor Billups at 1/2 (-200), with Rozier trailing at 3/2 (+150).
The second prop is even more severe: Will Billups or Rozier receive a lifetime ban from the NBA? The odds heavily lean toward “Yes” at 1/20 (-2000), with “No” sitting at a distant 8/1 (+800).
A lifetime ban would be more devastating to Billups, as it would almost assuredly mean his removal from the Hall of Fame.
Who will be next?
Billups, a 2004 NBA champion with the Detroit Pistons, has been tied to poker-related gambling involving the mob, while Rozier’s arrest stems from broader point or stat-shaving schemes. The story has been covered extensively here at Bounding Into Sports.
The latter half of BetOnline’s prop bets ventures into speculative territory, asking bettors to predict the next player or coach arrested for illegal gambling and the next Hall of Fame player to face such charges. These markets are less likely to materialize but have sparked lively debate among fans.
Of the current players, Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley (+500), Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. (+600), and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James (+700) lead the way.
I’d place a wager on James flopping at the news that he got lumped into this somehow.
For Hall of Fame players, the odds are equally intriguing:
- Kevin Garnett: 2/1
- Allen Iverson: 4/1
- Paul Pierce: 5/1
- Michael Jordan: 6/1
- Charles Barkley: 7/1
- Shaquille O’Neal: 50/1
- Magic Johnson: 66/1
While these bets are simply speculative and unlikely to come to fruition, they reflect the public’s fascination with the scandal and the betting industry’s knack for capitalizing on buzzworthy moments.
READ MORE: Terry Rozier’s Legal Struggles and NBA Betting Controversy
The irony of betting on an NBA gambling scandal
It’s worth emphasizing that this situation is far from a game. And none of the current or former stars above have been associated with the NBA gambling scandal to this point.
The allegations surrounding Billups, Rozier, and others, however, are serious, with potential legal and professional consequences that could reshape their careers and the NBA’s reputation.
Gambling scandals in sports are a stark reminder of the risks involved when money and competition collide.
For those curious about the complete list of prop bets, you can check them out at BetOnline.ag’s NBA gambling scandal props page.
The NBA gambling scandal has opened a Pandora’s box of questions about integrity, accountability, and the future of sports betting.
It’s too easy for a low-level player to be approached about the possibility of making sure his team only wins by 12 points instead of 15. With that in mind, the scandal could eventually make its way into the college game, where some player who knows they’re not going to the next level and can’t score with a NIL deal might be tempted by a quick payout.
While the prop bets add a layer of intrigue for fans, they also highlight the delicate balance between entertainment and responsibility in the betting world.