Donald Trump and Congress are squaring off in a new arena: America’s $150 billion sports betting empire. As federal indictments rain down on NBA and MLB players accused of point-shaving and insider wagering, Capitol Hill is demanding answers—and the White House is caught in the crossfire.
“Operation Full Court”: Players Indicted, Games Fixed, Trust Broken
Last week the DOJ unsealed charges against three NBA players and two MLB pitchers for allegedly manipulating outcomes to cash in on legalized gambling. Sources tell Fox News the probe—codenamed “Operation Full Court”—has already flagged over 40 suspicious games since 2024. Point-shaving, insider prop bets, and burner accounts linked to offshore books are all in play.
Donald Trump and Congress Summon Silver & Manfred to the Hill
Congress wasted no time. Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz (R-TX) and ranking member Maria Cantwell (D-WA) subpoenaed NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and MLB’s Rob Manfred to testify December 5, vowing to “restore integrity before the rot spreads.” It’s one of the rare moments Donald Trump and Congress appear on the same side—until the blame game starts.
Donald Trump’s 2018 Gamble Comes Back to Haunt Him
Donald Trump, whose first administration celebrated the Supreme Court decision that unleashed nationwide betting, now faces blowback. At a Mar-a-Lago donor dinner last month, Trump reportedly bragged that gambling revenue “funds American greatness.” Democrats pounced. “Donald Trump and Congress created this monster together,” Cantwell said on CNN. “Now Donald Trump wants to look the other way while players fix games.”
Bipartisan Fury: Cruz, Hawley, Blumenthal Push Lifetime Bans
Cruz fired back, accusing Democrats of hypocrisy for taking DraftKings cash while grandstanding. A new bill co-sponsored by Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) would impose lifetime bans for any athlete caught betting on their sport and force leagues to share 1% of betting revenue for addiction programs.
Leagues Scramble as Donald Trump Hints at Executive Action
Silver admitted the NBA’s monitoring system “missed red flags.” Manfred called the indictments “a gut punch.” Behind closed doors, owners fear Donald Trump could use executive action to tighten federal oversight—something he hinted at in a November 27 Truth Social rant: “Fix it fast or I will.”
With Donald Trump and Congress united in outrage but divided on blame, the golden age of legalized sports betting is facing its toughest fourth quarter yet. Fans are left wondering: who’s next?
At the intersection of the playing field and the corridors of power, the stakes are always higher than they appear. Here, touchdowns and treaties, contracts and caucuses, victories and vendettas all collide. This is where sports stop being just games — and politics stop pretending to be civil. Welcome to Sports & Politics. See you at the next whistle.
References:
- Fox News: “NBA, MLB players charged in betting scandals rock professional sports” (Nov 27, 2025) Details Cruz and Cantwell’s letter to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, quoting Cruz on “cheating scandals” and the need for integrity. Covers indictments of Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz. Link
- U.S. Senate Commerce Committee: “Senate Commerce Committee Probes Gambling in Major League Baseball” (Nov 17, 2025) Official letter from Cruz and Cantwell requesting MLB documents by Dec 5, 2025, on Clase/Ortiz rigging and broader integrity threats. Link
- The Athletic: “Here’s what NBA officials and Congressional staffers discussed on Capitol Hill” (Nov 6, 2025) Covers House and Senate briefings on NBA indictments (e.g., Terry Rozier, Damon Jones), with Cruz/Cantwell demanding written responses by Nov 10. Link
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At the intersection of the playing field and the corridors of power, the stakes are always higher than they appear. Here, touchdowns and treaties, contracts and caucuses, victories and vendettas all collide. This is where sports stop being just games — and politics stop pretending to be civil. Welcome to Sports & Politics.
