Cleveland-linked gambling scandal is new evidence that betting could destroy pro sports – Cleveland.com

What happens when fans can no longer trust that what they’re watching is real? That’s the existential question at the heart of a massive sports betting scandal with deep Cleveland connections that’s sending shockwaves through the NBA.
On Friday’s Today in Ohio podcast, hosts discussed the news that Shaker Heights High School alum and current Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, along with former Cavaliers player Damon Jones, have been implicated in a wide-ranging FBI gambling investigation with ties to organized crime.
“Terry Rozier, who’s a Miami Heat guard, but he played for Shaker Heights High School, he was among several people arrested in this FBI probe of sports betting that’s been under investigation for more than a year,” explained Lisa Garvin. The scandal, which extends to four of New York’s five major Mafia families, represents a fundamental threat to the integrity of professional sports.
The Today in Ohio conversation quickly moved beyond the local angle to explore the crisis this presents for professional sports as an institution. Host Chris Quinn delivered perhaps the most pointed observation of the episode in discussing the potential fan reaction: “When they’re watching a game, they think it’s the players on the field or on the court that are that are determining the outcome. But if you can’t trust what you’re seeing to be an honest effort, how do you continue to follow it?”
That question cuts to the heart of what makes sports a multi-billion dollar industry—fan trust. The podcast delved into the particulars of Rozier’s case, revealing that investigators noticed unusual betting patterns during a March 2023 game when he was with the Charlotte Hornets. Specifically, there was a surge of prop bets on Rozier’s performance metrics—rebounds, points, assists—followed by him playing just 10 minutes before leaving with a self-declared foot injury.
For Rozier, a Youngstown native who rose from difficult circumstances to earn a $96 million contract, the allegations could prove devastating. Meanwhile, Jones stands accused of leveraging his NBA relationships to pass insider information to gamblers while participating in rigged high-stakes poker games run by Mafia families.
The Today in Ohio hosts connected these revelations to the broader issue of legalized sports gambling in Ohio and nationwide. Lisa Garvin raised an important political dimension: “I think some politicians, I don’t know if any of them in Ohio are feeling a little regret over legalizing sports gambling. But I know that other lawmakers have spoken out in other states saying wow, this is really a bad idea.”
Garvin further noted how ubiquitous gambling advertisements have become during broadcasts, observing that “it seems like every other ad is Bet365, Fanduel, DraftKings… They’re really, really pushing it hard.”
Quinn warned that the financial temptation for players could ultimately kill the golden goose of professional sports: “It’s such a cash cow professional sports in America. But you could kill it by having this money. For some players, the temptation is just too great. They can make a lot of money by doing small things that affect the outcome.”
The podcast discussion highlighted a deeply unsettling paradox—the very gambling revenue that’s enriching professional sports might ultimately destroy fan trust, the foundation upon which the entire industry rests. For Cleveland fans, who recently celebrated the Cavs’ deep playoff run and are investing emotionally in the Browns’ season, these revelations force a troubling question: Can we trust what we’re watching?
Listen to the discussion here.
Listen to full “Today in Ohio” episodes where Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour news podcast, with Editorial Board member Lisa Garvin, Impact Editor Leila Atassi and Content Director Laura Johnston.
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