Malik Beasley Negotiates Guilty Plea in Federal Sports Betting Bribery Case

Former NBA guard Malik Beasley is in discussions with federal prosecutors about a possible guilty plea in a bribery and sports betting case. Steve Haney, his attorney, confirmed the negotiations, though no agreement has been signed. A court docket entry shows the 29-year-old intends to change his plea, with a hearing likely in the coming days.

Allegations Center on Bucks Performance Manipulation

Prosecutors allege Beasley intentionally altered his statistics during the 2023-24 season with the Milwaukee Bucks to allow associates to win wagers on his scoring and rebounding. Supplied reports differ on the number of games, citing at least three in one account and at least four in another. The indictment states that co-defendants picked non-nationally televised contests and that Beasley chose whether to underperform or overperform.

Beasley initially entered a not guilty plea after the June 26, 2026 indictment on charges of bribery in sporting contests, wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy. Prosecutors also claim he had accumulated multimillion-dollar gambling losses before the scheme, according to ESPN. Beasley played 578 games over nine NBA seasons, averaging 11.7 points and earning nearly $60 million.

Where the Case Heads Next

Several co-defendants have shifted toward guilty pleas. Ernesto Plascencia plans to plead guilty, William Brown has already done so, and Robert Gorodetsky is scheduled to enter his plea on November 20. Ed Davis and Paolo Zamorano maintain not guilty pleas. As reported by World Casino News, the matter forms part of broader scrutiny of sports betting and player proposition markets, with the NBA recently adding restrictions on certain prop bets.

Plea talks remain unfinished and the court has not yet accepted any change. This leaves unresolved questions about enforcement in player-involved prop markets. Operators and leagues face continued pressure to tighten controls where individual performances directly influence wager outcomes.

Reporting: World Casino News

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