Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz have been charged with participating in a sports gambling and money laundering scheme by accepting bribes to rig their pitches.
According to a statement released by federal prosecutors and the FBI on November 9, co-conspirators allegedly won hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal wagers with the scheme. Prosecutors claim that Ortiz helped the co-conspirators bring in at least US$60,000 by rigging his pitches, while Clase's involvement reportedly generated at least $400,000 from the illegal wagers.
Both players have denied their involvement in the scheme.
Indeed, 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.