The Journal. · The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

How Gamblers Are Rigging College Basketball

March 18, 2026·20 min·1 clip

A gambler texted 'You got somebody at Robert Morris?' to find a player willing to throw a game for money.

This episode investigates a college basketball point-shaving scandal where gamblers rigged games at small schools like Robert Morris, exploiting legal betting apps and vulnerable athletes. It explores the scheme's mechanics, its exposure through an NBA case, and the broader threat to sports integrity as fans question authenticity.

As heard by us

A sharp look at how narrow betting markets can turn college players into targets and erode trust in sport.

College basketball turns into a market-integrity story as The Journal follows an alleged effort to rig a Robert Morris first-half spread by getting players to underperform just long enough for bettors to cash in.

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