Federal prosecutors in the United States have unveiled what they describe as a significant international criminal conspiracy, charging 26 people over an elaborate scheme to rig basketball games in both the NCAA and the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).
The Mechanics of the Match-Fixing Scheme
According to authorities, the plot, detailed in an indictment unsealed on Thursday 15 January 2026, centred on fixers recruiting college and professional players. The players were allegedly promised substantial payments, typically ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 per game, in exchange for deliberately underperforming during matches. The fixers would then place large wagers against the players' teams, defrauding both sportsbooks and fellow bettors.
The operation reportedly began with two games in the Chinese Basketball Association in 2023. Emboldened by their success there, the conspirators moved on to target NCAA Division I men's basketball. The indictment alleges the scheme grew to involve more than 39 players from over 17 different teams, who rigged or attempted to rig more than 29 games, with activity continuing as recently as January 2025.
Key Figures and Extent of the Fraud
Of the 26 defendants, 15 were actively playing NCAA basketball during the 2024-25 season. A further five last played in the 2023-24 season. Among those named are former NBA player Antonio Blakeney, who played in the CBA during the 2022-23 season. Prosecutors allege that at the end of that season, fixers placed nearly $200,000 in bribe payments and shared winnings from rigged games into Blakeney's storage locker in Florida.
The remaining five defendants were identified as the orchestrating "fixers." This group included individuals working in player training and development, a former coach, a former NCAA player, and professional gamblers and sports handicappers. Players themselves allegedly helped to expand the ring by recruiting teammates. In a revealing text message cited in court papers, one fixer reassured another, stating there are no guarantees "in this world but death taxes and Chinese basketball."
Broader Context and Ongoing Fallout
U.S. Attorney David Metcalf, announcing the charges in Philadelphia, labelled the case a "significant corruption of the integrity of sports." The charges filed include bribery, wire fraud, and conspiracy. Metcalf confirmed the investigation is ongoing, noting the indictment suggests many other unnamed individuals were involved.
This scandal emerges against a backdrop of growing concerns about gambling in college sports since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal ban in 2018. The NCAA prohibits athletes from betting on college games but had a brief, controversial allowance for betting on professional sports last year before rescinding it. This federal case follows a series of NCAA investigations that have already led to at least 10 players receiving lifetime bans this year for gambling violations, some involving their own teams.
The American Gaming Association reports that gambling revenue topped $11 billion in the first three quarters of last year alone, a rise of over 13% from the prior year. This case, alongside last year's federal takedown of illegal gambling rings linked to professional basketball, underscores the persistent challenges facing sports integrity in an era of rapidly expanding legal wagering.
