Three Fresno State University college basketball players are at the center of a university and NCAA investigation into alleged sports gambling, including two players accused of betting on their own games.
One player, Mykell Robinson, has been removed from the team, and two other players, Jalen Weaver and Zaon Collins, have been suspended over their potential ties to sports gambling, ABC 30 Action News <a href="https://abc30.com/post/fresno-state-mens-basketball-players-allegedly-placed-bets-games-played-sources-say/15946235/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. According to the report, Robinson and Weaver allegedly placed bets on their own team, including bets that the Bulldogs would underperform in total points and rebounds in one game. Collins, meanwhile, is being investigated for placing bets on professional sports.
Fresno State, which is in the middle of its worst season in program history, will now lose two of its top three scorers — Weaver and Collins — for the foreseeable future, according to <a href="https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/43969441/fresno-state-holds-players-source-confirms-betting-inquiry" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN</a>. Weaver is averaging 12.5 points per game this season, while Collins averages 12 points per game. Collins also leads the team with 4.7 assists per game.
The Bulldogs moved to 5-23 on the season after their last loss to Air Force, which put them on a 10-game losing streak. The team&#8217;s head coach, Vance Walberg, reportedly discovered the alleged gambling by the student-athletes and notified the university&#8217;s administration.
Robinson — who averaged 10.3 points per game — has not played since January 11, while Weaver and Collins were suspended just before the team tipped off against Air Force on Saturday. The Bulldogs, playing with only seven players, lost in overtime, 72-69. Just 30 minutes before the game started against Air Force, Fresno State announced that the two players were &#8220;being withheld from competition as the University reviews an eligibility matter.&#8221;
&#8220;The University and Athletics Department will have no further comments regarding the matter at this time,&#8221; Fresno State added.
Fresno State, currently part of the Mountain West Conference, announced last year that it would join the Pac-12 effective July 1, 2026.

Fresno State v UNLV

College Basketball Players Allegedly Placed Bets On Games They Played In

Basketball

California

California State University Fresno

College basketball

Crime

Fresno, California

gambling

NCAA

U.S.

Major League Baseball umpire Pat Hoberg was fired on Monday after the league said he shared sports betting accounts with a friend who placed money on professional baseball games.
Hoberg — who was widely viewed as one of the best umpires in baseball — was also accused of intentionally deleting messages to his friend with whom he shared the legal gambling accounts. The umpire &#8220;adamantly denied betting on baseball directly or indirectly,&#8221; according to the MLB, but Hoberg&#8217;s friend — a professional poker player — placed numerous bets on MLB games, including five games in which Hoberg was umpiring or had responsibility for replay reviews.
&#8220;An extensive investigation revealed no evidence that Mr. Hoberg placed bets on baseball directly or that he or anyone else manipulated games in any way,&#8221; said MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. &#8220;However, his extremely poor judgment in sharing betting accounts with a professional poker player he had reason to believe bet on baseball and who did, in fact, bet on baseball from the shared accounts, combined with his deletion of messages, creates at minimum the appearance of impropriety that warrants imposing the most severe discipline.&#8221;
According to the MLB, Hoberg&#8217;s friend placed 141 baseball bets between April 2, 2021, and November 1, 2023, for a total of $214,000. The umpire&#8217;s friend won nearly $35,000 in those bets, the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/umpire-pat-hoberg-fired-gambling-6ab65f3751addfb85a01434b18a81369" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. In a statement, Hoberg said he takes &#8220;full responsibility for the errors in judgment that are outlined in today&#8217;s statement [from the MLB].&#8221;
An analysis of Hoberg&#8217;s umpiring showed no evidence that his calls were influenced by his friend&#8217;s bets, nor did they reveal any connection to a specific team, player, or umpire, <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/43680990/mlb-upholds-firing-ump-pat-hoberg-gambling-violations">according</a> to ESPN. The pair met at a poker tournament in 2014, and they would regularly travel together and watch sports on TV. Hoberg and his friend, who was not named, would use Telegram to keep track of each of their bets on the gambling accounts, and they would settle any debts when they saw each other. Hoberg&#8217;s friend deleted the Telegram account after Hoberg was contacted by MLB investigators, a move Hoberg claimed was due to his embarrassment over the amount of legal bets he had placed on non-baseball events.
&#8220;Those errors will always be a source of shame and embarrassment to me,&#8221; Hoberg added. The umpire said that he &#8220;never and would never bet on baseball in any way, shape, or form&#8221; and that he has &#8220;never provided, and would never provide, information to anyone for the purpose of betting on baseball. Upholding the integrity of the game has always been of the utmost importance to me.&#8221;
Hoberg was praised for correctly calling all 129 balls and strikes during Game 2 of the 2022 World Series. The 38-year-old was first relieved of his duties by the MLB last May, a few months after MLB began its investigation. A lengthy appeals process followed, leading to the league&#8217;s decision on Monday.

Pat Hoberg

MLB Umpire Fired For Sharing Sports Betting Accounts With Friend Who Put Money On Baseball

General

Sports

Federal prosecutors have launched an investigation into Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier for allegedly manipulating his performance in a 2023 NBA game as part of an illegal gambling conspiracy.
Federal investigators are <a href="https://www.wsj.com/sports/basketball/terry-rozier-illegal-betting-probe-nba-63a7170b">focusing</a> on a March 23, 2023, game that Rozier exited early with a reported foot injury, finishing with five points, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal after playing under 10 minutes, according to The Wall Street Journal. Rozier did not play a game for the rest of the season.
Authorities became suspicious when a known gambling ring placed massive bets on his performance that night, prompting several sports books to stop taking bets on Rozier and a review of betting records.
“In March 2023, the NBA was alerted to unusual betting activity related to Terry Rozier’s performance in a game between Charlotte and New Orleans … and did not find a violation of NBA rules,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said. 
The league is now cooperating with prosecutors as they investigate Rozier’s possible ties to a gambling scheme involving Jontay Porter, who was banned from the NBA last year after pleading guilty to criminal conspiracy similar to Rozier’s case.
According to <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/terry-rozier-nba-investigation-illegal-gambling-celtics-heat-hornets/">CBS</a>, “An investigation found that Porter relayed confidential information to bettors and agreed to feign an injury or illness to remove himself early in two games to ensure bettors would win wagers on his individual statistics. Porter pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy last year and is currently awaiting sentencing.”
Rozier, a 10-year veteran with 642 career appearances, joined the Miami Heat after stints with the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets. He has averaged nearly 12 points per game this season while coming off the bench for Miami.
The same suspicious shift that led to sports books dropping wagers on Rozier also raised red flags for federal authorities, who are now examining whether Rozier’s early departure was part of a deliberate plan. Although the NBA’s own review initially concluded that Rozier had not violated league rules, officials have acknowledged that the federal probe may uncover new information tied to alleged collaborators outside the league.
While Porter’s role in an illegal betting operation led him to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/11/us/jontay-porter-guilty-plead-wire-fraud-conspiracy/index.html">plead guilty</a> to wire fraud conspiracy last July, the circumstances surrounding Rozier’s alleged involvement will be scrutinized in the context of his more established NBA career. As the inquiry progresses, league officials and federal prosecutors will continue collaborating in an effort to determine whether any further legal or disciplinary action is warranted.

New York Knicks v Miami Heat

Feds Probe NBA Star’s Alleged Role in Illegal Betting Scheme

Fantasy Sports

Pro golfer Phil Mickelson shared details of his gambling addiction in a social media post on Monday, warning that gambling took him away from being with his loved ones.
Billy Walters, a well-known sports gambler who said that he knows about Mickelson&#8217;s bets over the years, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/10/golf-legend-phil-mickelson-wagered-more-than-1-billion-over-decades.html">estimated</a> that Mickelson has placed more than $1 billion in bets over a 30-year period and that he lost approximately $100 million.
Mickelson posted on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, that while many people will enjoy fantasy football with their friends and family this year, he will not because &#8220;I crossed the line of moderation and into addiction which isn’t any fun at all.&#8221;
&#8220;The money wasn’t ever the issue since our financial security has never been threatened, but I was so distracted I wasn’t able to be present with the ones I love and caused a lot of harm,&#8221; Mickelson wrote. &#8220;This lack of presence has been so hurtful. &#8216;You’re here but you’re not with us,&#8217; is something I’ve been told often throughout my addiction. It affected those I care about in ways I wasn’t aware or could fully understand.&#8221;
Mickelson likened the situation to having a hurricane going on outside and not being aware of it and then going outside and realizing the scale of damage and then wanting to go back inside and not deal with it.
&#8220;If you ever cross the line of moderation and enter into addiction, hopefully you won’t confuse your enablers as friends like I did,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Hopefully you won’t have to deal with these difficult moments publicly so others can profit off you like I have. But hopefully you WILL have a strong and supportive partner who is willing to help you through being your worst self, and through your worst moments like I have in Amy.&#8221;
Mickelson said that his wife has loved and supported him through his &#8220;darkest and most difficult times&#8221; and that he could not have gotten through it without her.
&#8220;I’m so grateful for her strength in helping us get through the many challenges I’ve created for us,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Because of her love,support,and commitment, I’m back on track to being the person I want to be.&#8221;
&#8220;After many years of receiving professional help, not gambling, and being in recovery from my addictions, I’m now able to sit still, be present in the moment and live each day with an inner calm and peace,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;I still have a lot of cleaning up to do with those I love the most but I’m doing it slowly and as best I can.&#8221;
He encouraged everyone to enjoy this football season with moderation and to remember that moments with family &#8220;will be far more remembered than any bet you win or fantasy league triumph.&#8221;

GOLF: AUG 11 LIV Golf Bedminster

Phil Mickelson Opens Up About Gambling Addiction

Golf

Phil Mickelson

Oddsmakers have listed President Joe Biden&#8217;s embattled son <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hunter-biden">Hunter</a> as the most likely source of the cocaine found in the West Wing of the White House over the weekend.
According to online betting site <a href="https://www.betonline.ag/sportsbook/futures-and-props/entertainment/white-house-cocaine-owner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BetOnline.ag</a>, the odds — originally +200 — are +170 (around 37%) that Hunter Biden will be identified as the owner of the &#8220;white powdery substance&#8221; that was found in a dime-sized bag at the White House on Sunday.
Although the president&#8217;s son – who has a long history of drug abuse and is seen at the White House with some regularity – tops the list, <a href="https://sportsbetting.legal/news/hunter-biden-leads-white-house-cocaine-odds-for-suspected-owner/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bookmakers</a> have also provided odds on a number of other White House residents, staffers, and recent guests.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Who owns the cocaine found in the White House?
Hunter Biden +200 Travis Kelce +800 One of the Jonas Brothers +1000 Angelina Jolie +1200 Maddox Jolie-Pitt +1200 Ariana Madix +1200 Member of LSU Lady Tigers +1400 Member of UConn Men’s Team +1400 Snoop Dogg +1600 Edward Lee +1600… <a href="https://t.co/4BVHQccWvy">pic.twitter.com/4BVHQccWvy</a>
&mdash; BetOnline (@BetOnline_ag) <a href="https://twitter.com/BetOnline_ag/status/1676574306451456002?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce – who visited the White House last month with other members of his Super Bowl-winning team — follows Hunter Biden on the list of potential culprits with odds of +800.
Other possibilities include &#8220;one of the Jonas Brothers&#8221; (+1000), actress Angelina Jolie (+1400), a member of Louisiana State University&#8217;s NCAA championship team (+1400), Snoop Dogg (+1600), and actor Matthew McConaughey or actress and singer Selena Gomez (+2500).
President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden also made the list, albeit at the bottom – the first lady&#8217;s odds were set at +10,000 and the president&#8217;s at +15,000.
Since the news broke on Sunday, media outlets have floated several possibilities regarding the source of the cocaine — most turning their attention away from the president&#8217;s son despite his history.
NBC White House Correspondent Mike Memoli <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pretty-wild-msnbc-reacts-to-cocaine-found-in-white-house-suggests-visitors-may-be-at-fault" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suggested</a> to MSNBC anchor Andrea Mitchell that it was found in a highly-trafficked area of the West Wing and could potentially have been left there by a visitor to the White House.
&#8220;So to recap on the developments that we’ve been reporting on yesterday, this was found, we understand, in a highly-trafficked common area of the West Wing. It’s an area where individuals, especially visitors, individuals who may be coming for, for instance, say private tour, might have been asked to leave some of their personal belongings before heading into more sensitive areas of the West Wing,&#8221; Memoli said.
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Former White House Press Secretary <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/you-have-got-to-be-kidding-me-ari-fleischer-calls-out-wh-gibberish-spin-on-cocaine-story" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ari Fleischer</a> pointed to apparent discrepancies between initial reports — that the cocaine had been found in the library — and follow-ups that indicated a more public area of the West Wing and suggested that the administration was attempting to spin the story away from Hunter Biden.
&#8220;What gibberish. A West Wing ‘work area’?&#8221; he tweeted. &#8220;With the exception of the WH Mess and the bathrooms, the entire West Wing is a work area. Where exactly was the cocaine found? In whose office? In the Sit Room? In the private office next to the Oval? Where?&#8221;
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-secret-service-agent-dan-bongino-says-biden-family-member-brought-cocaine-to-white-house">Former Secret Service Agent Dan Bongino Says Biden Family Member Brought Cocaine To White House</a>

Hunter Biden

Oddsmakers Peg Hunter Biden As Most Likely Cocaine Source

Cocaine

Joe Biden

Las Vegas

Scandals

White House

A 70-year-old man won a World Poker Tour ladies&#8217; event in Florida on Saturday night. According to one individual, this gentleman signed up for the female-only contest simply because he “could pretend to identify as a woman because they allow anything nowadays.”
Saturday night was day one of the WPT $3,500 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. David Hughes wound up winning the entire event, beating out 82 women, <a href="https://www.pokernews.com/news/2023/04/man-wins-ladies-event-at-wpt-seminole-hard-rock-poker-43462.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to PokerNews.com
One participant in the event was a woman by the name of Ebony Kenney. As a video posted by Kenney shows, Hughes can be seen sitting at a table surrounded by women, sporting a  white beard and a toothy grin. He is the only man in the room.
&#8220;Playing the @WPT ladies event today, and Dave here is the only man,&#8221; Kenney tweeted. &#8220;(Filmed w/permission!) While we appreciate the dead money, I really wish men would get what these events stand for. So I put a $300 bounty on his head and Tamra &amp; Noah Piderit matched it.  Let’s get him.&#8221; 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Playing the <a href="https://twitter.com/WPT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WPT</a> ladies event today, and Dave here is the only man. (Filmed w/permission!)
While we appreciate the dead money, I really wish men would get what these events stand for.
So I put a $300 bounty on his head and Tamra &amp; Noah Piderit matched it. 🥳🥳
Let’s get him. <a href="https://t.co/dXVZVlriAP">pic.twitter.com/dXVZVlriAP</a>
&mdash; Ebony Kenney | Poker &amp; Purposeful Pleasure (@Ebony_Kenney) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ebony_Kenney/status/1652441213725986816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2023</a></blockquote>
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In professional poker, a bounty is a financial reward given to the player who knocks out a certain opponent that other players have placed a &#8220;bounty&#8221; on. Except nobody knocked Hughes out and he took home the $5,555 prize.
When a Twitter user tried suggesting that perhaps Hughes identified as female, Kenney said she &#8220;100%&#8221; heard him mocking radical gender ideology.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Maybe Dave was overheard saying he “could pretend to identify as a woman bc they allow anything nowadays.”
And by maybe, I mean, 100%.
&mdash; Ebony Kenney | Poker &amp; Purposeful Pleasure (@Ebony_Kenney) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ebony_Kenney/status/1652447866051350530?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2023</a></blockquote>
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In reaction, Charlie Carrel, another professional poker player, reacted positively to Hughes&#8217; women&#8217;s tournament victory.
&#8220;Hilarious that he won,&#8221; Carrel tweeted before getting more serious with his commentary.
&#8220;It pokes fun at the idea that anybody can identify as a woman and be allowed to enter women&#8217;s spaces,&#8221; Carrel said. &#8220;It&#8217;s a real issue that people are taking advantage of in many different areas, including sports, prisons, and changing areas. This has lead to some horrific repercussions (female inmates being raped in prison, or women getting destroyed in MMA fights by somebody who spent 95% of their life as a man).&#8221;
&#8220;It does suck that it comes at the expense of the women&#8217;s only space,&#8221; he added. &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t do it, even though I probably share the same criticisms.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
1) Hilarious that he won.
2) It pokes fun at the idea that anybody can identify as a woman and be allowed to enter women&#39;s spaces. 
It&#39;s a real issue that people are taking advantage of in many different areas, including sports, prisons, and changing areas. This has lead to… <a href="https://t.co/EKgnPgU9sO">https://t.co/EKgnPgU9sO</a>
&mdash; Charlie Carrel (@Charlie_Carrel) <a href="https://twitter.com/Charlie_Carrel/status/1652763508881203201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Carell also argued that &#8220;female only spaces&#8221; in poker are necessary.
&#8220;The trans issue is a lot easier to handle in poker, as the stakes are relatively low,&#8221; he noted. &#8220;The difference between male and female players is negligible enough that the incentive for men to join women&#8217;s spaces isn&#8217;t really there. It does speak loudly to the insanity that&#8217;s playing out on a larger scale.&#8221;
So, for those keeping score at home, this is now the second man in recent weeks to make a complete mockery of the &#8220;transgender&#8221; movement. In Indiana, a GOP councilman <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/local-hoosier-rep-changes-his-identity-to-woman-of-color-liberal-outrage-ensues" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> he was now identifying as a &#8220;woman of color&#8221; — making him the first lesbian councilwoman ever elected, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/local-hoosier-rep-changes-his-identity-to-woman-of-color-liberal-outrage-ensues" target="_blank" rel="noopener">utterly mocking</a> Leftist Lunacy.
Based on Kenney&#8217;s words, it seems that Hughes also joined the poker tournament simply because society now allows it.  Now that&#8217;s a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsC3ni7A88M&amp;t=287s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">real man of genius</a>!
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Poker, Dave Hughes

70-Year-Old Bearded Man Wins Ladies’ World Poker Tour Event In Florida

70-Year-Old Bearded Man Wins Ladies' World Poker Tour Event In Florida

Comedy

Florida

Transgender

Women

Women's sports

The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/nfl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NFL</a> suspended five players on Friday for violating the league&#8217;s prohibition on sports gambling.
The league suspended Detroit Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus and safety C.J. Moore, and Washington Commanders defensive end Shaka Toney, for at least one year, for allegedly betting on games. Cephus and Moore were promptly cut by the Lions. Former Lions first-round draft pick Jameson Williams and fellow wide receiver Stanley Berryhill were also suspended for six games.
&#8220;The gambling policy, which is annually reviewed with all NFL personnel, including players, prohibits anyone in the NFL from engaging in any form of gambling in any club or league facility or venue, including the practice facility,&#8221; the <a href="https://nflcommunications.com/Pages/NFL-INDEFINTELY-SUSPENDS-THREE-PLAYERS-AND--TWO-OTHER-PLAYERS-SIX-GAMES-EACH-FOR--GAMBLING-POLICY-VIOLATIONS.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NFL</a> said in a statement. &#8220;A league review uncovered no evidence indicating any inside information was used or that any game was compromised in any way.&#8221;
Cephus, Moore, and Toney were all suspended indefinitely and cannot apply for reinstatement until after the 2023 season. Williams and Berryhill, meanwhile, were suspended six games for betting on non-NFL games in an NFL facility. They are allowed to participate in offseason programs and the preseason; their suspensions will be enforced after final roster cuts.
Cephus and Moore were cut from the Lions on Friday as well. &#8220;These players exhibited decision making that is not consistent with our organizational values and violates league rules,&#8221; <a href="https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-release-wr-quintez-cephus-and-s-c-j-moore" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lions</a> Executive Vice President and General Manager Brad Holmes said in a statement. &#8220;We have made the decision to part ways with Quintez and C.J. immediately.&#8221;
&#8220;We are disappointed by the decision making demonstrated by Stanley and Jameson and will work with both players to ensure they understand the severity of these violations and have clarity on the league rules moving forward,&#8221; Holmes added.
The <a href="https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-suspends-five-players-including-four-lions-for-violating-gambling-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Commanders</a> issued a statement saying they had been made aware of the suspension and directed inquiries to the league office.
Williams was selected by the Lions out of Alabama with the 12th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He did not play most of his rookie season due to a torn ACL he suffered in the CFP National Championship in 2022. He returned for the last four games of the season, catching one pass for a 41-yard touchdown, and rushing once for 40 yards.
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Cephus was a 5th-round pick by the Lions out of Wisconsin. He played in 22 games for the team, catching 37 passes for 568 yards and four touchdowns. He spent time on injured reserve during all three seasons, but was expected to battle for a roster spot this year.
Berryhill was an undrafted free agent signed by the Atlanta Falcons in 2022. He was on the Lions&#8217; practice squad in 2022. Moore was also a member of the Lions practice squad in 2022.
Toney was drafted by the Commanders in the 7th round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He played 26 games in two seasons, notching 16 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
The suspensions come more than a year after Atlanta Falcons star wide receiver <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/atlanta-falcons-wide-receiver-suspended-indefinitely-after-betting-on-games" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Calvin Ridley</a> was suspended for the entire 2022 season for betting on 2021 NFL games. According to reports from the time, Ridley reportedly placed several parlay bets on the Falcons to win, while he was away from the team for his &#8220;mental health.&#8221; Ridley has since been reinstated. He signed with the <a href="https://www.jaguars.com/team/players-roster/calvin-ridley/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jacksonville Jaguars</a> this year.

Carolina Panthers v Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFL Suspends Five Players For Betting On Games

Detroit Lions

Washington Commanders

It should’ve been the easiest $11,200 any <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/after-the-kentucky-derby-winner-was-caught-cheating-what-happens-to-all-the-gambling-winnings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NFL bettor</a> ever made, but it turned into a seven-figure nightmare.
When the Los Angeles Chargers took a commanding 27-0 lead in the first half of Saturday’s NFL wildcard playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, an unnamed gambler wagered the team would hold on to win. Since the outcome seemed pretty obvious at the time, it cost him $1.4 million for the chance to win less than a penny on the dollar. As football fans now know, the Jaguars, led by second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence, mounted one of the most unlikely comebacks in playoff history, winning 31-30 on a last-second field goal.
“[DraftKings Sportsbook] has confirmed that this bet was indeed made,” tweeted Action Network reporter Darren Rovell.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
When the Chargers went up 27-0, a bettor bet $1.4 million on them to win the game to net $11,200.
Jacksonville came back and won 31-30.<a href="https://twitter.com/DKSportsbook?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DKSportsbook</a> has confirmed that this bet was indeed made. <a href="https://t.co/TvwCNyEjyr">pic.twitter.com/TvwCNyEjyr</a>
&mdash; Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) <a href="https://twitter.com/darrenrovell/status/1614603901021437954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Lawrence threw four interceptions in the first half as it looked like Los Angeles would win in a rout. The former No. 1 overall pick out of Clemson seemed unable to do anything right until driving the Jaguars to a touchdown with just over a minute remaining in the first half.
But in the second half, Lawrence could do no wrong. The 6-foot, 6-inch field general threw three more touchdown passes, and Jacksonville’s defense stiffened up, allowing only a field goal. Somewhere, a gambler who thought he had lined up a sure payday must’ve grown sicker by the minute as the Jaguars seized the momentum.
As the clock ticked down, Lawrence engineered a 10-play, 61-yard drive to set up the game-winning, 36-yeard field goal by Riley Patterson. The comeback from a 27-point deficit was the biggest in Jaguars&#8217; history and the third biggest in NFL playoff history, behind only Buffalo’s 1993 32-point rally against Houston and Indianapolis’ comeback from a 28-point deficit against Kansas City in 2014.
“You couldn’t write a crazier script,” Lawrence, who finished with 28 completions in 47 attempts for 288 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions, said after the game. &#8220;We said in the locker room that’s kind of how our season’s going. We’re never out of the fight. &#8230; I’m kind of speechless, honestly, just to see what belief can do and to see when a team believes in each other what you can accomplish.”

Trevor Lawrence

How One NFL Gambler Lost $1.4M Chasing Chump Change In Jags’ Epic Comeback

How One NFL Gambler Lost $1.4M Chasing Chump Change In Jags' Epic Comeback

Jacksonville Jaguars

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/golf">Golf</a> great <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/phil-mickelson-proves-age-is-just-a-number">Phil Mickelson</a> racked up a stunning $40 million in gambling losses from 2010-14, according an excerpt from an upcoming biography.
The huge losses were uncovered by federal auditors who investigated Mickelson&#8217;s connection to an insider trading scheme, according to Alan Shipnuck, who posted an excerpt from his unauthorized biography, “Phil: The Rip-Roaring (and Unauthorized!) Biography of Golf’s Most Colorful Superstar,” on his website, &#8220;<a href="https://firepitcollective.com">Firepit Collective</a>.&#8221; The book is due out on May 17, coinciding with Mickelson&#8217;s potential defense of his 2021 PGA Championship.
&#8220;According to a source with direct access to the documents, Mickelson had gambling losses totaling more than $40 million in the four-year period (2010–14) that was scrutinized,&#8221; Shipnuck wrote. &#8220;In those prime earning years, his income was estimated to be just north of $40 million a year.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Phil Mickelson Reportedly Piled Up $40 Million In Gambling Losses Over a 4-Year Span <a href="https://t.co/rrh5pUz9Y5">https://t.co/rrh5pUz9Y5</a> <a href="https://t.co/4fybYnmKB4">pic.twitter.com/4fybYnmKB4</a>
&mdash; Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) <a href="https://twitter.com/barstoolsports/status/1522324025690804227?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Shipnuck, a former Sports Illustrated golf writer, cited documents from government auditors who did a “forensic” analysis of Mickelson’s finances during the period in which he was involved with professional gambler Billy Walters, who gave Mickelson insider stock tips. Mickelson was not accused of any wrongdoing, but had to pay back about $1 million in stock profits. Walters  was fined $10 million and <a href="https://nypost.com/2017/07/27/phil-mickelsons-pal-gets-5-years-fined-10m-for-insider-trading/">sentenced to five years in prison</a>.
Mickelson, 51, has kept a low profile since early February when he courted controversy by signing on for a Saudi-backed golf tour. Mickelson angered many in the golf world with his comments on the Kingdom&#8217;s horrific human rights record, including the killing of Washington Post reporter Jamal Khashoggi.
The Saudi-backed LIV Golf Tour was launched by fellow golf great Greg Norman with funding from Saudi royals. Mickelson helped recruit golfers to join the tour, which the PGA sees as direct competition. The first LIV Golf Invitational series is set to tee off June 9-11 outside London.
The Telegraph reported that Mickelson is getting $30 million up front and must appear in eight events during the LIV Golf Invitational series. It is not known who will take part in the tournament.
Mickelson, known to fans as &#8220;Lefty,&#8221; has won 45 PGA tour events, including three Masters, two PGA championships and one Open. Last year&#8217;s PGA victory made Mickelson the oldest golfer to ever win a major championship.
Shipnuck, who wrote that Mickelson&#8217;s lavish lifestyle remains legendary &#8211; including getting multiple mansions, a plane and a genuine T Rex skull for a birthday present &#8211; said he still roots for the golfer.
&#8220;There is something Shakespearean about Mickelson’s arc,&#8221; Shipnuck wrote on his blog. &#8220;He had it all, or so it seemed, but greed and vanity and recklessness (and perhaps desperation) cost him everything, at least in the short-term. But he will come back, because he always has, through myriad controversies and heartbreaks.&#8221;

PIF Saudi International – Day Three

Golf Great Phil Mickelson Lost Obscene Amount Of Money Gambling, Says New Book

Golf Star Phil Mickelson Racked Up $40M In Gambling Losses From 2010-14, According To A New Book

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley has been suspended for at least the entirety of the 2022 NFL season for gambling on 2021 NFL football games. 
In a press release, the NFL says Ridley bet on games “during a five-day period in late November 2021 while Ridley was not with the team and was away from the club’s facility on the non-football illness list.” 
The NFL added that no other members of the Atlanta Falcons organization were involved in Ridley’s gambling. 
&#8220;There is nothing more fundamental to the NFL&#8217;s success &#8212; and to the reputation of everyone associated with our league &#8212; than upholding the integrity of the game,&#8221; NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote in a letter to Ridley. &#8220;This is the responsibility of every player, coach, owner, game official, and anyone else employed in the league. Your actions put the integrity of the game at risk, threatened to damage public confidence in professional football, and potentially undermined the reputations of your fellow players throughout the NFL.&#8221;
&#8220;For decades, gambling on NFL games has been considered among the most significant violations of league policy warranting the most substantial sanction,” Goodell continued. “In your case, I acknowledge and commend you for your promptly reporting for an interview, and for admitting your actions.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
NFL statement on the year-long suspension of Falcons’ WR Calvin Ridley: <a href="https://t.co/mQZm5dGgPO">pic.twitter.com/mQZm5dGgPO</a>
&mdash; Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1500933743279808514?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Ridley played in just five games during the 2021 season, leaving the team in October in order to focus on his “mental health.” 
“We were first made aware of the league’s investigation on Feb. 9,” the Falcons <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1500936642546253826?s=20&amp;t=0dcgtjwMKm1b5k0m6cXZrQ">said</a> in a statement. “We have cooperated fully with the investigation since receiving notice and support the league’s findings and actions. We are moving forward in the 2022 season with the decision that was made. With the decision that was made by the NFL, any further questions on the investigation should be directed to the league office.&#8221;
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that Ridley placed parlay bets on the Falcons to win. 
“NFL determined that Calvin Ridley placed multi-legged parlay bets involving 3, 5 and 8 games that included the Falcons to win, per source,” Schefter <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1500942433269518339?s=20&amp;t=0dcgtjwMKm1b5k0m6cXZrQ">said</a> on Twitter. “Investigation determined there was no involvement from any team players, coach etc. placed via his mobile device out of state.”
Ridley was selected by the Falcons No. 26 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. In his four NFL seasons, Ridley has 248 catches for 3,342 yards and 28 touchdowns. His contract will come off the books for the 2022 season, freeing up $11.1 million in cap space for Atlanta. 
In February, Falcons Owner Arthur Blank said that while the team would love to have Ridley return to the team, he was &#8220;mostly concerned about him as a human being.&#8221;
<div class="nfl-c-body-part nfl-c-body-part--text">
&#8220;We love the young man,&#8221; Blank <a href="https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/we-d-love-him-to-stay-in-atlanta-arthur-blank-discusses-calvin-ridley">said</a>. &#8220;He has had a great history in Atlanta. We&#8217;d love him to stay in Atlanta. Whether or not he wants to do that &#8212; he may decide that he wants a fresh start someplace else. We don&#8217;t know that. I don&#8217;t know that. I don&#8217;t have information to indicate that, but we&#8217;ll see how that plays out.
</div>
<div class="nfl-c-body-part nfl-c-body-part--text">
&#8220;We&#8217;ve been totally supportive in every way that we can be, both emotionally and financially in working with him as well as his agent,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;We&#8217;ll see, but I&#8217;m mostly concerned about him as a human being.&#8221;
</div>
Per the NFL, Ridley is eligible to petition the league for reinstatement on February 15, 2023. 
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to sports@dailywire.com.

Miami Dolphins Training Camp

Atlanta Falcons Wide Receiver Suspended Indefinitely After Betting On Games

Atlanta

The big bet: Will he say &#8220;moonshot&#8221;?
While President Joe Biden doesn&#8217;t appear as if he&#8217;s going to attend the Super Bowl in person on Sunday in Southern California, bookmakers have devised some bets anyway.
SportsBetting.ag and other betting websites have posted a slew of presidential “<a href="https://www.sportsbetting.ag/sportsbook/futures-and-props/super-bowl">prop bets</a>” for Biden’s pregame interview on NBC, ranging from who the president predicts will win the game to what words he&#8217;ll say first, including &#8220;moonshot.&#8221;
Below are some of the things you can bet on.
Which team will President Biden pick to win?
Cincinnati Bengals -120
Los Angeles Rams -120
How many times will President Biden tweet during game?
Over 1.5 tweets
Under 1.5 tweets
Length of President Biden’s pregame interview
Over 11 minutes
Under 11 minutes
What city/state will President Biden say first?
Cincinnati +150
Los Angeles +200
Ohio +260
California +450
What will President Biden say first?
Burrow -120
Stafford -120
What will President Biden say first?
Jobs +200
Economy +200
Ukraine +200
Moonshot +550
Child Care +1000
Climate Change +1400
Joe Biden approval rating on Feb. 14, 2022
Over 41.5
Under 41.5
Which will be higher?
Joe Biden disapproval rating on Feb. 14 (-140)
Super Bowl LVI total points scored (+100)
Will Super Bowl LVI winning team visit White House?
Yes -2000
No +700
Biden doesn&#8217;t do many interviews with the media, and a Thursday sit down with NBC News host Lester Holt might explain why.
Holt asked Biden if his administration was prepared to pull out of Afghanistan when he gave the order to do so.
<blockquote>No. What I was told, no one told me that, look, there was no good time to get out. But if we had not gotten out, they acknowledged that we would have had to put a hell of a lot more troops back in. It wasn’t just 2,000, 4,000, we would have to significantly increase the number of troops, and we’re back in this this war of attrition. And, and there was no way we were ever going to unite Ukraine, excuse me, Iraq, Afghanistan. No way that was going to happen. And so this is a much wiser thing to do.</blockquote>
“This man has the nuclear football,” Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) said after the car crash interview.
Republican Governor’s Association Communications Director Jesse Hunt wrote on Twitter, “Impressive, he listed all the places where he’s been part of foreign policy failures in one sentence.”
Holt also asked Biden about a new U.S. Army report that said the Biden administration was not prepared effectively withdraw from Afghanistan.
“I have to draw your attention to that Army report, an investigative report that’s come out about the lead up to the withdrawal from Afghanistan,” Holt said. “It interviewed many military officials and officers who said the administration ignored the handwriting on the wall. Another described trying to get folks in the Embassy ready to evacuate, encountering people who were essentially in denial of the situation.”
“Does any of that ring true to you?” Holt asked.
“No,” Biden said. “No, that’s not what I was told.”
Joseph Curl has covered politics for 35 years, including 12 years as White House correspondent, and ran the Drudge Report from 2010 to 2015. Send tips to josephcurl@dailywire.com and follow him on Twitter @josephcurl.

US-POLITICS-BIDEN

All The Hilarious Bets You Can Make About Biden’s Super Bowl Appearance

Super Bowl

With the horse racing world in the midst of another doping scandal, the winner of the Kentucky Derby isn’t the only result in question. 
Medina Spirit’s Kentucky Derby victory is up in the air after it was reported last <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/churchill-downs-suspends-bob-baffert-after-medina-spirit-tests-positive-for-betamethasone">Sunday</a> that the horse had nearly double the legal limits of betamethasone — a banned performance-enhancing substance. The horse&#8217;s trainer, Bob Baffert, initially denied any wrongdoing but released a statement Tuesday blaming the positive test on an anti-fungal ointment Otomax used on Medina Spirit to treat dermatitis. 
<blockquote>Following the Santa Anita Derby, MEDINA SPIRIT developed dermatitis on his hind end. I had him checked out by veterinarian who recommended the use of an anti-fungal ointment called Otomax. The veterinary recommendation was to apply this ointment daily to give the horse relief, help heal the dermatitis, and prevent dirt from spreading. My barn followed this recommendation and MEDINA SPIRIT was treated with Otomax once a day up until the day before the Kentucky Derby. Yesterday, I was informed that one of the substances in Otomax was betamethasone. While we do not know definitively that this was the source of the alleged 21 picograms found in Medina Spirit&#8217;s post-race blood sample, and our investigation is continuing, I have been told by equine pharmacology experts that this could explain the test results. As such, I wanted to be forthright about this fact as soon as I learned of this information.  </blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Bob Baffert releases new statement in which he says, “Oops, I guess I did do it” <a href="https://t.co/Yn30EolMjQ">pic.twitter.com/Yn30EolMjQ</a>
&mdash; Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) <a href="https://twitter.com/KySportsRadio/status/1392133468033851397?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and Churchill Downs are waiting on the results from a second test to determine if Medina Spirit will be disqualified as the winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby. The runner-up, Mandaloun, would be declared the winner if the positive test is confirmed. 
And that won’t put an end to the controversy. 
Of all sports, horse racing may be the one tied most closely to the betting world. All horses are given betting odds before each race and it’s ultimately what drives attention to the sport. 
Yes. The Daily Wire is covering sports – without the woke. Want more? <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe?utm_source=adwords&amp;utm_term=daily%20wire&amp;utm_campaign=Search+-+Daily+Wire+Brand&amp;utm_medium=ppc&amp;hsa_kw=daily%20wire&amp;hsa_ad=432007871445&amp;hsa_src=g&amp;hsa_ver=3&amp;hsa_grp=71680674390&amp;hsa_cam=927227687&amp;hsa_tgt=kwd-316236076046&amp;hsa_acc=6411461344&amp;hsa_mt=p&amp;hsa_net=adwords&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjw1PSDBhDbARIsAPeTqrfwVNC1MZnI5ZRWdzEbOk3Pjz0oFVeTr7sA8iGOgsyrhbqydkk91vsaAkuXEALw_wcB">Become a member</a>. 
So what happens to the money that was paid out to those who bet that Medina Spirit would win The Derby? According to horse racing author <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/horses/kentucky-derby/2019/05/06/maximum-security-winners-cant-cash-kentucky-derby-tickets-ever/1118368001/">Bob Heleringer</a> — nothing. 
Heleringer said that, once the race is official, the betting results are final regardless of mistakes by the track, or the result of an appeal, calling the rule “one of the most irrevocable standards in racing.”
While all prize money will be taken away from Medina Spirit and given to Mandaloun, the betting money won on Medina Spirit will not change hands. If the findings are upheld, it will be the first time since 1968 that a Kentucky Derby winning horse has been disqualified from the race for a banned substance, with <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2018/05/03/dancers-image-drugs-and-mlk-the-enduring-mystery-of-the-1968-kentucky-derby/">Dancer’s Image</a> being the last.
On Friday, Medina Spirit passed three rounds of pre-race drug tests and was cleared to race in this weekend&#8217;s Preakness. 
According to <a href="https://www.espn.com/horse-racing/story/_/id/31422292/medina-spirit-heads-preakness-minus-trainer-bob-baffert">ESPN</a>, Baffert will not head to Preakness with Medina Spirit in order to “avoid being a distraction in the wake of scrutiny following the colt’s failed post-race drug test.” 
“I go to Baltimore to have a good time. It’s a fun trip,” Baffert said. “I don’t want to take away from the horses. I think it’d be a distraction if I went. I think it’d be a distraction if I win. The owners will be there. [Assistant trainer] Jimmy [Barnes] can handle it.”
If Medina Spirit is disqualified, Baffert will no longer hold the record for most Kentucky Derby wins by a trainer. He became the all-time leader in Derby victories last weekend with his seventh win as the trainer of the winning horse. 
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to <a href="mailto:Sports@dailywire.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sports@dailywire.com</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

147th Kentucky Derby

After The Kentucky Derby Winner Was Caught Cheating, What Happens To All The Gambling Winnings?

horse racing

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