Federal Investigation Targets Malik Beasley Over Alleged NBA Betting

Reports suggest the U.S. Attorney's Office is leading the investigation in the Eastern District of New York.

Ziv Chen

Last Updated: June 30, 2025 2:32 PM EDT • 2 minute read

Federal Investigation Targets Malik Beasley Over Alleged NBA Betting — Pictured: Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley fires up the crowd. Photo by Rick Osentoski via Imagn Images.

Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley is reportedly under federal investigation after allegations that he wagered on NBA games during the 2023-24 season, while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Reports suggest the U.S. Attorney's Office is leading the investigation in the Eastern District of New York, focusing on betting patterns associated with bets on Beasley's performances.

One source cited a game in January 2024 in which the odds of Beasley making fewer than 2.5 rebounds dropped after a bet surge before the game. On that occasion, Beasley finished with six rebounds, and the bets failed.

“At this point, Malik has not been charged with any crime. An investigation is not a charge. Malik is afforded the same presumption of innocence as anyone under the U.S. Constitution”, said Beasley’s Attorney, Steve Haney, responding to questions from journalists.

Beasley has just started talks with the Pistons on a three-year, $42 million deal, but those talks are said to be on hold, after the NBA confirmed it was co-operating with a federal investigation.

The veteran enjoyed a strong 2024-25 season, setting a franchise record of 319 three-pointers. However, he has been no stranger to legal difficulties. In 2020, he pleaded guilty to a charge of threats of violence and spent 120 days in jail.

NBA betting scandals

Beasley is not the first NBA player linked to federal betting-related investigations. In 2024, former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter was banned from the NBA for life after admitting in court to deliberately leaving games to sway bets. Porter pleaded guilty to wire fraud and faces up to four years in jail.

Following the Porter case, the NBA revised its rules regarding mobile phone usage to encourage betting integrity. It prohibited players from using phones after tip-off.

More recently, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was named in a separate betting probe, relating to suspicious bets on a March 2023 game when Rozier, then playing for Charlotte, left the game early with an injured foot. U.S. Integrity alerted the NBA and sportsbooks after an unusually high number of wagers were placed on Rozier hitting the under in many statistical categories.

The NBA found no rule-breaking during an investigation launched at the time, but the federal probe continues.

“The league conducted an investigation and did not find a violation of NBA rules. We are now aware of an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York related to this matter and have been cooperating with that investigation,” said NBA spokesman Mike Bass at the time.

Written by:
Ziv Chen

Ziv has over two decades of experience in the igaming and sports betting industry, having served in senior marketing and business development positions with both B2C and B2B companies, including Playtech and Microgaming. In 2019, Ziv decided to pursue his passion for writing and became a fulltime industry journalist, covering casino, sports, and gambling business news. He’s specialties include casino games and technology, US state gambling regulation, company performance, as well as gambling affiliates and marketing. As a Pitt graduate, Ziv is a diehard fan of all Pittsburgh sports teams, with the Steelers at the top of the list. In his free time, he enjoys reading crime fiction, biographies (mainly of sports personalities, but not only) and American history. Ziv’s Favorite quote: “We're going to pursue perfection, knowing full well we won't catch it, but we're going to relentlessly chase it," Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach.