Federal authorities have exposed a large-scale international betting scheme that manipulated professional and college basketball games, ensnaring 26 defendants, including more than a dozen NCAA basketball players, prosecutors announced Thursday.
According to court documents, the operation involved bribing players to deliberately underperform in games so conspirators could place lucrative bets against their own teams. The scheme targeted both NCAA basketball games and contests in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), defrauding sportsbooks and unsuspecting bettors.
How the Basketball Game-Fixing Scheme Worked
Prosecutors say fixers recruited players by offering cash payments ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 per game. In exchange, players agreed to miss shots, commit turnovers, or otherwise manipulate their performance without drawing suspicion.
Once players were compromised, the fixers placed large wagers against the affected teams, generating substantial payouts from sportsbooks that were unaware the games had been rigged.
“The sportsbooks would not have paid out those wagers had they known the games were fixed,” prosecutors said in the indictment unsealed Thursday.
Scheme Spanned China and U.S. College Basketball
The investigation found that the scheme began in 2023 with two fixed games in the Chinese Basketball Association. After early success, organizers expanded into NCAA men’s basketball, with manipulated games occurring as recently as January 2025, authorities said.
Four of the charged players — Simeon Cottle, Carlos Hart, Oumar Koureissi, and Camian Shell — appeared in games for their current teams in recent days. Prosecutors emphasized that the allegations do not involve the current season.
“Significant Corruption of Sports Integrity”
U.S. Attorney David Metcalf, speaking at a news conference in Philadelphia, described the case as an “international criminal conspiracy” that undermined public trust in sports.
“This represents a significant corruption of the integrity of sports,” Metcalf said.
NCAA Players Among the Defendants
Prosecutors said 15 defendants played for Division I NCAA programs during the 2024–25 season, with several still active this year.
Another five defendants last competed in NCAA basketball during the 2023–24 season, while former NBA player Antonio Blakeney was charged for his alleged involvement while playing in the Chinese Basketball Association during the 2022–23 season.
Who the Fixers Were
Authorities identified five defendants as fixers, describing them as individuals who organized and facilitated the scheme.
Among them were:
- Two men involved in basketball training and player development
- A former coach and trainer
- A former NCAA player
- Two individuals described as gamblers, sports handicappers, and online influencers
Sportsbooks and Bettors Suffered Losses
In many cases, the conspirators’ bets succeeded, forcing sportsbooks to pay out winnings on rigged games. Prosecutors said sportsbooks incurred losses they would have avoided had they known the games were manipulated.
Meanwhile, ordinary bettors unknowingly wagered on fixed contests, losing money they would not have risked had the scheme been disclosed.
Criminal Charges Filed in Federal Court
The charges, filed in federal court in Philadelphia, include:
- Bribery
- Wire fraud
- Conspiracy
Each carries potentially significant prison sentences.
Gambling Concerns Grow Across College Sports
The case highlights escalating concerns about sports gambling and college athletics, particularly since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 decision that struck down a federal ban on sports betting.
While the NCAA prohibits athletes and staff from betting on college sports, enforcement challenges have grown alongside the rapid expansion of legalized gambling nationwide.
Gambling Revenue and Recent NCAA Scandals
According to the American Gaming Association, U.S. sports betting revenue exceeded $11 billion during the first three quarters of last year, a more than 13% increase compared to the prior year.
The indictment follows a wave of NCAA gambling investigations that resulted in at least 10 players receiving lifetime bans this year. The NCAA has acknowledged investigating at least 30 players over gambling-related allegations.
Last year, federal authorities also charged more than 30 individuals in a separate crackdown on illegal gambling operations linked to professional basketball.
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