Former NBA player Malik Beasley is at the centre of a sweeping federal gambling case after prosecutors accused him of deliberately manipulating his performances to benefit an alleged sports betting scheme.
The indictment, unsealed on Monday, alleges Beasley worked with former NBA player Ed Davis, an NBA agent and several others to influence prop bets during the 2023–24 season while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Prosecutors claim the scheme generated significant betting profits and involved bribes linked to Beasley's alleged gambling debts. Beasley has denied wrongdoing through his lawyer, insisting the indictment contains allegations rather than proof of guilt.
According to the federal indictment, the alleged scheme centred on player prop bets rather than game outcomes. Prosecutors claim Beasley agreed to alter his individual statistics ahead of selected Milwaukee Bucks games so co-conspirators could profit by placing wagers on his performance.
The indictment identifies four games during the 2023–24 season that were allegedly targeted: contests against the Cleveland Cavaliers on 26 January, the Charlotte Hornets on 27 February, theLos Angeles Clipperson 10 March and the Brooklyn Nets on 21 March.
Federal prosecutors allege members of the scheme placed wagers worth more than $75,000 (approximately £56,700) across those games, generating net winnings of more than $121,000 (around £91,400).
Court documents further allege Beasley accepted bribes, often used to reduce or repay gambling debts he allegedly owed to Davis, whom prosecutors describe as acting as Beasley's 'gatekeeper'.
The indictment includes a series of text messages that prosecutors say demonstrate how the alleged scheme operated.
In one exchange from December 2023, Davis allegedly told Beasley: 'Only way you can beat Vegas is sports betting,' before adding: 'We can make some good money.'
Prosecutors also allege Beasley informed Davis before the Bucks' game against Cleveland that he intended to stay below his rebounding line. Beasley finished the game with three rebounds, falling under the 3.5-rebound betting line offered by some sportsbooks.
Source: International Business Times UK
