When The Game Bets Back: How Gambling Is Changing The Game

The Game Is Being Played Differently

Having spent decades in locker rooms, press boxes, and on sidelines, I’ve witnessed athletes pour their hearts into every play. But today, the game has changed. It’s no longer just about skill or hustle — it’s about lines, odds, and who’s cashing in.

The NCAA’s latest sanctions show the stakes. Six former college players from New Orleans, Mississippi Valley State, and Arizona State were banned for life after fixing games or sharing insider info for gambling purposes. Their careers? Gone. Their trustworthiness? Destroyed. And their actions echo across youth sports, teaching the wrong lesson: winning money can matter more than winning honor. Even the pros aren’t immune. Jontay Porter admitted to manipulating performance in an NBA game for bettors. Terry Rozier faces federal charges for allegedly providing insider info. The message is clear: no level of the sport is safe.

Youth Are Learning the Wrong Game

Here’s the real danger: teens are watching — and copying.

Smartphones, fantasy apps, and social media have normalized betting for high school athletes. Surveys show many places their first bets at 16. They see former players, influencers, and even some coaches glamorize wagering —posting about their big wins or promoting betting apps —and the line between entertainment and exploitation disappears. The risk is cultural: a generation growing up thinking sports are a transaction, not a test of talent, teamwork, or character.

Hypocrisy in the Spotlight

Let’s call it what it is: we created this environment.

Leagues, the NCAA, and networks profit from betting while punishing athletes caught in its web. Sports gambling is everywhere — on screens, in arenas, in halftime sponsorships — yet the burden of integrity falls solely on players.

Young athletes see this contradiction and internalize it. They’re learning that rules can be bypassed if the payout is right. And some are taking that lesson to heart.

The Mental Cost Is Real

Gambling is addictive, silent, and destructive. It starts as fun, but quickly becomes a cycle of chasing losses, hiding mistakes, and risking futures. Athletes — college, pros, or youth — are under constant pressure to perform. Add the lure of fast money, and the stakes can overwhelm even the most disciplined. I’ve seen careers, focus, and lives crumble under this pressure.

Education Must Lead, Punishment Alone Isn’t Enough

Lifetime bans make headlines, but they don’t prevent the next student or teen from making the same mistake.

Schools, leagues, and mentors must step up with real education: how betting networks work, how quickly one decision can spiral out of control, and how integrity protects both players and the game.

Professional athletes must lead by example, showing that discipline and responsibility are worth more than a quick payout.

Reclaiming the Soul of Sports

Sports teach more than stats and victories — they teach character, resilience, teamwork, and pride. When gambling infiltrates locker rooms, classrooms, and social media feeds, it threatens to destroy all of that. Fans, teammates, and communities suffer. And worst of all, our youth are watching, learning, and imitating, at risk of losing the true essence of sports.

We have to reclaim the game. Protect the players. Educate the youth. Uphold the values. This is not a battle that can be won by one person or one organization. It requires a collective effort from all stakeholders in the sports community. Because once the game bets on our future, everyone loses especially the next generation of athletes.

About The Author:

Darryl Jacobs, a nationally recognized sports journalist and basketball analyst for ESPN, CBS Sports, and NBA TV, with more than 20 years of leadership experience in higher education, professional sports, corporate partnerships, and nonprofit management, brings a unique blend of expertise to the sports industry.

 He is the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters. Dr. Jacobs has collaborated with professional athletes and served on national boards focused on education, sports, and community development.