Money rules the world, and the greed to constantly consume more controls people. The chokehold finances have on someone can sometimes lead them to make irrational or unlawful decisions. Recently, two MLB players and an NBA head coach have been indicted on account of illegal sports betting. And while these three individuals face serious charges, they are not the first and probably not the last to get in trouble for this illicit matter.
In October, the head coach of the National Basketball Association’s Portland Trail Blazers was indicted on felony charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. This indictment is said to be linked to the mob and is believed to have used the Hall of Famer as a “face card.” According to the New York Post, the former coach and player was used to attract high rollers to big-money poker games that were then fixed and rigged using x-ray card tables, card shufflers, and special glasses to cheat people out of their money. He is also facing charges related to an illegal sports gambling ring that placed bets in games using insider information on teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors, Charlotte Hornets, and his very own Trail Blazers. Billups made a jaw-dropping $106 million as a player and kept his cash flow rolling, earning $4.7 million as a coach. Therefore, the need for sports betting was not necessary. As if the money he was already making weren’t enough, he then tried to cheat people out of their earnings and is now paying for it.
In a surprising turn around, the October incident is not even the most recent example of illegal sports betting. Two Major League Baseball players, Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, who both play for the Cleveland Guardians, face multiple charges, including wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, money laundering conspiracy, and more. According to CNN, Clase’s involvement allegedly dates back to 2023, when he would give information in advance about the speed and type of pitches he would throw, allowing bettors to wager and win. He is said to have won at least $400,000 from this scheme. Ortiz is accused of joining the conspiracy in 2025, working alongside Clase to coordinate with bettors, with the feds saying that he won at least $60,000 in the process. Both Luis and Clase lawyers proclaim their innocence in the wake of these charges.
In the end, I simply don’t understand why anyone in such a powerful position would risk it all just for a bit of gain. From the pro-sports league they play or coach in, these people are already millionaires who continue to make more in a year than some individuals make in their lifetime. Especially in recent times, people have struggled to know how they are going to feed their kids or afford the month’s rent, so for these athletes to take what they have for granted for a quick buck or cheap thrill is highly out of touch, and anyone with that amount of money should check themselves and be grateful.
