Under Texas law, deliberately altering the outcome or a statistical detail of a professional sports contest in exchange for money is a crime in its own right — a rigged-contest offense that sits apart from ordinary betting and can pull in gambling-promotion, bribery, and money-laundering charges alongside it. That is the Texas lens on the federal case against former NBA guard Malik Beasley, who has pleaded not guilty to charges tied to an alleged sports-betting and point-shaving scheme.
What Is Malik Beasley Charged With?
According to federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York, Beasley — a former Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons player — was named in a June 2026 indictment charging conspiracy to commit wire fraud, sports bribery, honest-services wire fraud conspiracy, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Prosecutors allege he shared inside information about how he intended to perform in certain 2023-24 games so co-conspirators could place profitable prop bets, in exchange for payments that reduced his gambling debts. Beasley has pleaded not guilty and maintains his innocence, so nothing here predicts the outcome; because it is a federal case, it also offers a clear contrast with how Texas would charge similar conduct in state court.
Does Texas Have a Law Against Fixing a Sporting Event?
Yes. Texas Penal Code Section 32.44 makes it a crime to influence a publicly exhibited contest by tampering with a participant, official, or the equipment, or to bet on a contest a person knows is rigged. Offering, accepting, or agreeing to accept a benefit to affect the outcome or a measurable detail of the contest is the heart of the offense, which is generally graded as a Class A misdemeanor. This statute reaches the exact theory at issue in a point-shaving or prop-manipulation case: a player altering performance for payment rather than competing on the merits.
How Does Texas Treat Gambling and Gambling Promotion?
Texas separates casual betting from running the operation. Under Penal Code Section 47.02, simple gambling — making a bet on the outcome of a contest — is generally a Class C misdemeanor. But Penal Code Section 47.03 covers gambling promotion, which includes operating or profiting from a bookmaking operation or receiving bets for a fee, and is a Class A misdemeanor. Prosecutors typically reserve the promotion charge for the people running or profiting from the betting rather than a single casual bettor, which is why a coordinated wagering scheme can expose different participants to very different levels of liability.
Could Money Laundering Charges Follow in Texas?
They can. When proceeds from a rigged contest or an illegal betting operation are moved, concealed, or spent, Texas Penal Code Section 34.02 allows a money-laundering charge that is graded by the dollar amount involved, climbing from a state-jail felony into higher felony ranges as the sums grow. Layering laundering on top of a rigging or promotion charge is a common prosecutorial strategy because it targets the financial payoff, not just the underlying scheme, and it often carries the most serious exposure of the group of charges.
What Defenses Apply to a Texas Sports-Bribery Case?
Every case turns on its own facts, but common defense issues in a rigging or gambling case center on intent and proof of agreement. Because the state must show a knowing agreement to influence a contest for a benefit, the defense often examines whether the alleged conduct was ordinary poor performance rather than deliberate manipulation, whether any agreement actually existed, and whether the financial transactions were what the state claims. The reliability of cooperating witnesses, the interpretation of text messages, and whether the money truly derived from unlawful activity are all frequently contested. Undercutting the proof of a knowing agreement can unravel the connected bribery and laundering counts.
How L&L Law Group Can Help
A rigged-contest, gambling-promotion, or money-laundering case in Texas can expose a person to felony liability, financial forfeiture, and a permanent record, and the difference between a conviction and a dismissal often comes down to whether the state can prove a knowing agreement and a traceable illegal payoff. At L & L Law Group, PLLC, we defend Frisco and Dallas-Fort Worth clients against gambling, bribery, fraud, and money-laundering allegations, scrutinizing the evidence of intent, challenging cooperating-witness accounts, and working toward the leading available resolution. If you or a loved one is facing gambling, bribery, or fraud charges in Collin County or anywhere in DFW, contact us for a confidential consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is fixing a game a crime in Texas even if no one gets hurt? Yes. Under Penal Code Section 32.44, influencing a publicly exhibited contest for a benefit is a distinct offense that does not require any physical harm.
Is placing a single bet a serious crime in Texas? Usually not. Under Penal Code Section 47.02, casual gambling is generally a Class C misdemeanor; the more serious charges target promoting or profiting from the operation.
Why would money-laundering charges be added? Under Penal Code Section 34.02, moving or concealing proceeds from an illegal scheme is a separate, dollar-graded offense that often carries the heaviest exposure.
Source: Reporting via ESPN and Reuters (2026). This article is legal commentary by L & L Law Group, PLLC on a news story and is not a republication of the original reporting.
By Reggie London and Njeri London. This article is attorney advertising and general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; outcomes depend on specific facts. If you face criminal charges in Texas, consult a licensed Texas criminal-defense attorney.
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