This past weekend, Heat F Derrick Jones Jr. pulled off a big upset in the NBA 2K20 players-only tournament. Now, it’s creating a big problem in the gambling industry.
NBA 2K20 Tournament Controversy
Jones defeated Kevin Durant, the top seed in the tourney, to advance to the second round this past weekend. It was quite the upset, but the controversy with the game was not due to any foul play from Jones. Rather, it was because the game was pre-taped.
The game, which aired on ESPN, and the tournament itself caught the interest of betters looking to make some money off of sports action. Finding action during this climate is tough, as all major sport entities other than horse racing and eSports have essentially shut down in the wake of the novel coronavirus.
SportsBetting.ag, an online sportsbook and gambling site, set odds for the game, but found themselves in quite the pickle when they saw that all the action went to one side. SportsBetting.ag Odds Manager Robert Cooper told NBC Sports:
“The NBA 2K Players Only Tournament over the weekend caused a headache for sportsbooks because it was pre-taped, and information was ultimately leaked. We initially made Durant the favorite to win the tournament, but he was taking very little action over the course of the first 24 hours. When we posted the first-round matchup lines and the bets were completely one-sided toward Jones Jr., it became obvious that someone knew the outcome of the game.”
Perhaps gambling on pre-taped events may not be the best idea. Â Â
