At least two dozen charged in connection with sweeping basketball game fixing scandal
NBC23 hrs
26 Charged in NCAA Point-Shaving Scheme Across 17 Teams
Is gambling corruption destroying sports integrity, or is the moral panic about betting overblown and misguided?
Above: NCAA football odds displayed at the Westgate SuperBook sports book in Las Vegas. Image credit: Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
This case further proves that gambling corruption in college and professional sports has exploded beyond what's publicly known, with coaches aware of unreported point-shaving incidents happening regularly. The ease of manipulating prop bets for quick cash, combined with massive money flowing through Name, Image, and Likeness deals while some players earn nothing, creates irresistible temptation that's destroying the integrity of competition. Legalized betting must be better regulated.
Narrative B
The system is working as these indictments prove. So banning college player prop bets would just be performative nonsense that ignores the reality that offshore sites, sweepstakes apps and fantasy platforms will still offer these wagers regardless of legal restrictions. Smart regulation beats prohibition every time, and pretending legal restrictions solve harassment or integrity issues is just lazy policymaking that makes the regulated industry worse without addressing actual problems.
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© 2026 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.18.0
© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.
All rights reserved.
Version 6.18.0