Former Fresno State Manager Charged in BetMGM College Prop Bet Fraud Case

Nevada regulators have moved against Samuel Silverman, a former Fresno State men’s basketball team manager and DraftKings employee, after an investigation into suspicious BetMGM wagers tied to college proposition bets. The case matters for PSPs and sportsbooks because it centers on prop markets, team access, and the kind of internal information flow that can turn a betting product into an integrity problem very quickly.

1. The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) says Silverman was arrested after investigators linked him to a broader scheme involving four other individuals, including Fresno State player Michael Robinson. The alleged setup relied on Silverman’s former ties to the team to recruit Robinson into the betting scheme.
2. According to investigators, Robinson deliberately underperformed in key areas so that the other participants could profit from strategically placed wagers. The scheme used prop bets that let users wager on nearly every aspect of the game, including individual player stats.
3. The betting ring allegedly made tens of thousands in profits, and investigators later identified financial transactions linking the participants. Silverman is the only suspect who has been arrested so far; he faces charges of fraud and conspiracy to cheat at gambling, has been released on bail, and is due back in court on August 4.
4. DraftKings said Silverman was no longer part of the company and that the suspicious wagers were placed at another sportsbook. The operator also said it “strongly condemn[s] the alleged conduct of these former employees” and remains committed to protecting the integrity of sports and sports betting.
5. The case lands in a broader wave of scrutiny around college prop bets. Several states are moving to restrict them, with lawmakers arguing that such limits would reduce gambling-related harm, preserve sports integrity, and reduce harassment of college athletes. The source also notes that leagues are increasing education efforts, while some are pushing for a ban.

For high-risk operators, the takeaway is straightforward: prop bets, especially on college sports, are not just a product design issue. They are an integrity-control issue, a monitoring issue, and, when insiders are involved, a compliance headache with a very short fuse.