Malik Beasley Plea Talks In NBA Betting Case

Former NBA guard Malik Beasley is negotiating a plea agreement with the US Department of Justice after earlier pleading not guilty to sports betting charges, his lawyer told The Associated Press. A court docket notice has since indicated that he intends to plead guilty, though he has not signed a deal and nothing has been entered in court.

Attorney Steve Haney said on Saturday 24 October that talks with the government were under way and pointed to an expected direction in the coming days. ESPN reported that a decision was expected early in the week of 26 October. Beasley entered his not guilty plea in New York federal court in July.

According to ABC News, the judge overseeing the case referred a change of plea to a federal magistrate in Brooklyn, who will schedule a hearing at which he would formally plead guilty. The docket notice did not say what he would plead guilty to, and his attorney could not immediately be reached by ABC for comment.

The Charges

Beasley, 29, is one of six people named in an indictment unsealed this summer. Prosecutors charged all six with wire fraud conspiracy, bribery in sporting contests, honest services wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. Sports agent Paolo Zamorano has also pleaded not guilty.

The case is part of a federal gambling investigation that has led to more than three dozen arrests. Former NBA player Damon Jones became the first person to plead guilty in the wider sweep, in April.

What Prosecutors Allege

The indictment says Beasley fixed or tried to fix his performance in at least four games while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2024, by performing above or below what sportsbooks expected. 

The games named are against the Cleveland Cavaliers on 26 January, the Charlotte Hornets on 27 February, the Los Angeles Clippers on 10 March and the Brooklyn Nets on 21 March.

In exchange, prosecutors say, bettors bribed him and his debts to former NBA player Ed Davis were reduced or wiped out. ABC reports that co-defendants allegedly chose games that were not nationally televised, while Beasley decided whether to under or over perform on his scoring and rebounding.

Davis, who lent Beasley money after he ran up gambling losses of millions of dollars, is accused of acting as his gatekeeper in the alleged scheme.

Why The Case Matters For Bettors

The allegations centre on player prop bets tied to individual statistics such as points and rebounds, rather than game results. For more on how betting markets are being monitored, see our report on Novig expanding its market integrity partnership.

Beasley has been out of the NBA since the 2024-25 season with the Detroit Pistons, where he played on a one-year, $6 million contract. 

Until a plea is formally entered in court, he has not been convicted of any offence. Our guide to US sportsbooks covers the licensed betting options available to players in regulated states.