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Sports and gambling have long shared an uneasy relationship, with high stakes often leading to high-profile scandals. From rigged games to insider betting schemes, the allure of quick money has tainted the integrity of sports around the world. These scandals have shaken fans' trust, tarnished reputations, and ultimately reshaped how leagues handle gambling-related issues.

Click on to dive into the most notorious sports gambling scandals.

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In 2006, Italian soccer's Calciopoli scandal exposed referee manipulation involving top clubs like Juventus, AC Milan, and Lazio. Juventus faced relegation and title losses, while others received point deductions.

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The scandal's financial toll was immense, with millions lost in fines, sponsorships, and broadcasting revenue. Despite the turmoil, Italy's national team triumphed, winning the World Cup that year.

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In 2023, 10 Chinese snooker players were banned for match-fixing, accepting bribes to manipulate outcomes. The scandal, worth tens of thousands, led to major reforms in snooker governance and betting oversight.

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South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje, a revered star, shocked the sports world in 2000 by admitting to accepting bribes to fix matches.

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Since the mid-'90s, Cronje had collaborated with Indian bookmakers, providing inside information and underperforming in games. Linked to over US$100,000 in bribes, Cronje's legacy was shattered. Tragically, he died in a plane crash just two years later.

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In 1919, crime boss Arnold Rothstein orchestrated the World Series fix, bribing eight White Sox players with US$70,000 to $100,000 to lose to the Reds. Rothstein was never convicted.

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In 2007, NBA referee Tim Donaghy was exposed for betting on games he officiated, using insider knowledge to influence outcomes. The scandal earned him 15 months in prison and tarnished the NBA's reputation.

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In 2010, Pakistani cricketers Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Amir, and Salman Butt were caught spot-fixing, deliberately bowling no-balls for money. Exposed by a sting operation, they faced bans, jail, and disgrace in their sporting community.

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In 2024, NHL player Shane Pinto was suspended for 41 games after being linked to a third party who bet on NHL games. The league only allows players to bet on sports outside hockey.

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Michael Vick's involvement in a dogfighting ring also included illegal gambling, with Vick and associates betting thousands of dollars on dogfights. The scandal led to his conviction and NFL suspension in 2007.

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In 2006, Operation Slapshot exposed an illegal gambling ring led by NHL assistant coach Rick Tocchet involving players and celebrities. Tocchet pled guilty, receiving probation and shocking the NHL community.

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In 2022, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley was suspended for betting US$1,500 on NFL games, costing him an $11 million salary. This highlighted the NFL's strict gambling policies and the need for player education.

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In 2023, the Operação Penalidade Máxima investigation uncovered a match-fixing scandal in Brazilian soccer, with players accepting bribes to earn yellow cards. Legal proceedings followed, highlighting ongoing corruption in the sport.

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In the 1978 Boston College basketball scandal, the Lucchese crime family paid players US$500 to $1,000 to throw games. The scheme began with a game against Providence and continued through their 22-9 season.

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Former New Zealand cricketer Chris Cairns faced match-fixing accusations during his time in the Indian Cricket League (2008-2009). Although acquitted, the allegations damaged his career and highlighted cricket's vulnerability to corruption.

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In 2010, Australian player Ryan Tandy of the Canterbury Bulldogs tried to fix a match against the North Queensland Cowboys by deliberately giving away a penalty for a betting scam.

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The investigation uncovered a wider network of match-fixing in the NRL, though Tandy's involvement was limited to this incident. He was banned from the sport, and the scandal severely damaged his rugby career.

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The 1951 college basketball point-shaving scandal involved 33 players from several schools, who were bribed to manipulate game outcomes, sparking a long, dark history of betting in the sport.

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In 1961, a continuation of the 1951 scandal led to 37 students from 21 schools being arrested. Future NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue unknowingly played in a fixed game, later opposing legal gambling in the NFL.

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In 2022, the NFL suspended Jets wide receivers coach Miles Austin for violating the league's gambling policy. Although he wasn't found betting on football, he has yet to be reinstated.

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In 2023, NBA player Jontay Porter was banned after being caught betting on NBA games. This violation of the league's strict gambling rules led to his suspension.

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Porter's undisclosed bets highlighted the NBA's strict anti-gambling stance, raising concerns about the integrity of professional basketball and the risks of player involvement in betting.

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The Arizona State basketball point-shaving scandal, spanning from 1994 to 2002, saw Stevin "Hedake" Smith and others bribed by bookmakers to influence game outcomes, leading to legal consequences.

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In 2024, baseball star Shohei Ohtani's bank wired US$4.5 million to an illegal bookmaking operation, though it was later revealed his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, had stolen the funds. Mizuhara lost $40 million through 19,000 bets and pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud.

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In 2019, Arizona Cardinals cornerback Josh Shaw was suspended indefinitely by the NFL for betting on league games, including wagers against his own team. His actions violated the league's strict gambling policy.

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UFC coach James Krause and fighter Darrick Minner were banned in November 2022 after suspicious betting and odds movement in Minner's fight. Krause also ran an MMA betting syndicate.

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In 2024, Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano was banned for life after betting on Pirates games while injured. Four others, including Michael Kelly and Andrew Saalfrank, received one-year suspensions.

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In the late 1980s, Pete Rose, manager of the Cincinnati Reds, was caught betting on baseball games, including those involving his own team. This led to a lifetime ban, excluding him from the Hall of Fame.

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In 2023, several NFL players, including WR Jameson Williams, Isaiah Rodgers, and Quintez Cephus, were suspended for violating the league's gambling policy. Williams received a six-game suspension, though he didn't bet on football.

Sources: (Stacker) (New York Post)