Nearly a decade ago, Rob Gorodetsky predicted the very scandals that have recently embroiled the NCAA and NBA. In a 2017 interview with USA Today, he remarked, “You just pay college kids, inner-city college kids who don’t have any money. Give them 10 grand. That’s like a million dollars to them. You know what I’m saying? Have a bad game, here’s 10 grand. I don’t see how they wouldn’t do it.” At that time, sports betting was not yet legalized across the nation, but Gorodetsky’s profile on X still illustrates his bold gambling practices, claiming he wagered $27 million that year.
Gorodetsky’s high-stakes betting began to attract the scrutiny of law enforcement, ultimately leading to his indictment alongside Malik Beasley and former NBA player Ed Davis. In March 2024, a fellow gambler involved in the case, Ernesto Plascencia, warned Gorodetsky, “Rob you making insane amount stop it. You move the lines every time.” Agent Paulo Zamorano, another individual indicted, expressed concern about gamblers wagering “30-40K a game” and manipulating the betting lines.
All individuals named in the indictment maintain their not guilty pleas. Gorodetsky has previously revealed his methods for evading detection during a point-shaving scheme, explaining, “I’d spread it around Vegas, 20 grand a place. They’d never notice. I wouldn’t beat one casino badly. I’d take a little piece from every single (sports) book.”
This case differs from the broader NBA sports betting scandal that implicated Terry Rozier and former NBA player Damon Jones. Rozier has also pleaded not guilty to accusations of exiting games early to benefit specific prop bets. Conversely, Jones accepted a plea deal, admitting guilt to two counts of wire fraud related to both the betting case and a rigged poker scheme involving figures from organized crime. Recently, another group of twelve defendants entered plea deals.
Gorodetsky has a notable connection to Jones, who, during the 2017 USA Today interview, was said to have regularly contacted Gorodetsky for betting insights. At that time, Jones was serving as an assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the two were observed together at the NBA summer league in Las Vegas, where Gorodetsky claimed he placed daily bets as high as $150,000. He remarked, “I would take my knowledge and my gut instinct and bet the best numbers. They started lowering my limits because the house has no idea who’s going to win in summer league.”
The current indictment alleges that Jones used his coach position to provide bettors with insider information regarding player lineups. On one occasion, he reportedly informed gamblers that LeBron James would not play, impacting bets against the Lakers.
Despite their successful NBA careers, both Jones and Beasley have faced financial troubles largely attributed to gambling habits. The indictment alleges that Davis proposed a match-fixing scheme to Beasley as a remedy for growing debts, with prosecutors noting that Beasley endured “multi-million dollar gambling losses.” Jones's messages exhibited signs of financial desperation, one stating, “GOD really blessed me that you have action for me cause I needed it today bad.”
Like his counterparts, Gorodetsky's gambling history reveals volatility. Renowned in Las Vegas as a high-stakes gambler, he openly admits to significant losses over the years. "The thing that gives me the edge is there’s no fear of losing,” he stated during a particularly rough night at the tables. He reported losses of $100,000 on that occasion and noted that he intended to continue betting regardless. His casino host at Aria, Peter Tran, confirmed Gorodetsky’s gambling losses exceeded $1 million at blackjack.
Fellow gambler Dave Oancea, known as 'Vegas Dave,' commented, “I know for a fact Rob is losing his ass. If someone is born into $10 million, anybody can purchase $200,000 tickets.” Gorodetsky’s capacity for gambling has not always been financially guaranteed; in 2020, he faced wire fraud charges in Illinois for stealing nearly $10 million from his ex-girlfriend’s father. After pleading guilty, he received a 28-month prison sentence. Less than a year after his release, the alleged scheme involving Beasley unfolded.
