Jun 3, 2024, 04:28 PM ET

On May 14, 2018, just after 10 a.m. ET, the United States Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, the federal statute that had restricted legal betting to primarily Nevada for 26 years.

It was a landmark decision for two of America’s favorite pastimes: sports and gambling.

States wasted little time launching — and taxing — legal sports betting markets, and professional leagues quickly formed partnerships with the bookmaking companies that would be taking bets on the games. Six years later, 39 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have legal betting markets, and bettors have already wagered more the $330 billion with the new state-sponsored sportsbooks. But as the betting has increased, so have the controversies that come from gambling.

In the past two years, dozens of professional and collegiate athletes and coaches have been suspended or fired for gambling violations, and at least one bettor has pleaded guilty to obstruction charges related to a college baseball betting scandal. In early 2024, a pair of investigations were launched involving suspicious betting on Temple men’s basketball and on prop wagers involving

Oct 26, 2023: NHL player Shane Pinto suspended 41 games for gambling

It is unclear how Ottawa Senators center Shane Pinto violated the NHL’s sports wagering policy, but Pinto did have an online gambling account in the U.S. that was flagged by an NHL integrity protection partner “because of unusual activity,” according to the Ottawa Sun.

Oct. 27, 2023: Two Korn Ferry Tour golfers suspended for sports betting

Vince India and Jake Staiano, golfers on the PGA Tour’s feeder tour, were suspended for three and six months, respectively, for placing bets on PGA Tour competitions. Neither wagered on tournaments in which they played.

2024

Jan. 25, 2024: Patriots’ Kayshon Boutte arrested over illegal betting at LSU

Louisiana State police said the charges against wide receiver Kayshon Boutte include a felony count of computer fraud and a misdemeanor count of gambling prohibited for persons under 21, but that there could be additional charges as the investigation was ongoing. Boutte allegedly used an alias to get around the age requirement for placing sports wagers in Louisiana while he placed bets from April 6, 2022, through May 7, 2023, while he was 20.

March 8, 2024: Temple reviews reports of unusual gambling activity

Watchdog company U.S. Integrity flagged at least one Temple men’s basketball game for unusual betting activity, prompting Caesars Sportsbook and FanDuel, among other sportsbooks, to halt betting on the game.

March 12, 2024: Ex-Jaguars employee Amit Patel given 6 ½ year prison sentence for fraud

Amit Patel pleaded guilty to stealing $22 million from the team. Patel stole the money over the course of 3½ years as he transferred approximately $20 million to FanDuel and $1 million to DraftKings, using the rest of the stolen money on various other expenditures.

March 20, 2024: Dodgers fire Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, amid allegations of “massive theft” stemming from gambling debts

Ippei Mizuhara was fired after questions started to arise surrounding at least $4.5 million in wire transfers sent from Shohei Ohtani‘s bank account to a bookmaking operation that is under federal investigation. A spokesman for Ohtani initially told ESPN that Ohtani had transferred the funds to cover Mizuhara’s gambling debt.

Read: Shohei Ohtani, his interpreter and wire transfers: A timeline

March 25, 2024: NBA eyes Raptors’ Jontay Porter for betting issues

Multiple sources told ESPN that Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter was being investigated by the NBA for making prop bets from games on Jan. 26 and March 20 involving himself.

March 27, 2024: NCAA president calls for ban on college prop bets

NCAA president Charlie Baker calls for ban on college prop bets. Baker said this is to protect “the integrity and competition” of the game as well as stop the harassment of student and professional athletes.

April 11, 2024: Federal prosecutors say Mizuhara stole more than $16 million from Ohtani

Federal authorities filed a complaint accusing Mizuhara of bank fraud in relation to allegations he stole money from Ohtani to cover his own gambling debts. The prosecutors said Ohtani is considered a victim in this case.

April 17, 2024: NBA bans Jontay Porter for life

The NBA announced its investigation found that “Porter violated league rules by disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes, and betting on NBA games.”

June 3, 2024: Padres Marcano faces potential lifetime ban

San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano is facing a potential lifetime ban for betting on baseball. Major League Baseball received information that he wagered on games involving the Pirates when he was with them last season, sources confirmed to ESPN.