Gaming the Game: The Story Behind the NBA Betting Scandal and the Gambler Who Made It Happen

by Sean Patrick Griffin

In June 2007, the FBI informed the NBA that one of its referees, Tim Donaghy, was the subject of a probe into illegal gambling. Within months, the public knew the broad outlines of a scheme involving Donaghy betting on games he officiated with a co-conspirator, longtime Donaghy acquaintance and professional gambler Jimmy Baba Battista. They were joined in the scandal by a mutual childhood friend, Tommy Martino. By November 2008, each man had pleaded guilty to charges relating to the conspiracy, and was in federal prison. The story was over. Or so it seemed to be. Researched with dozens of interviews, court documents, betting records, referee statistics, and unique access to witness statements and confidential law enforcement files, GAMING THE GAME looks inside the FBI's investigation and beyond to provide the definitive account of the scandal. Jimmy Battista's remarkable decades-long bookmaking and betting career is examined, including and especially his role as architect of the widely publicized scandal. Battista, who - unlike his co-conspirators - never spoke with federal authorities, reveals for the first time the intricate details of the scheme, most of which only he knows.

Genres: Sports, Basketball, Nonfiction, Audiobook, True Crime

320 pages, Hardcover

First published March 16, 2011

Reviews

[RA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sean Griffith's well-researched book about the more realistic story surrounding the NBA "ref-betting" scandal (2006-07). Based on interviews with "Sheep" Jimmy Battista, professional gambler who was involved.

While it is sympathetic to Battista and denigrates Tommy Martino & former NBA ref Tim Donaghy (the two other participants), there is more believability about his side, given Griffith's research (interviews with a wide range of knowledgeable people) and analyses.

There, of course, is some doubt about the NBA's interest in fully investigating the issues involved in the case; and Griffith also addresses the popular mythology about the "scandal."

There is a lot of "professional" detail about the movement of money lines, etc., and other gambling issues.

Recommended for any NBA fan.

[Charmayne Croy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Betting you'll find it at the least to be interesting. Almost heartbreaking if you know the culture, the people, the schools. Maybe a saddened pride as well.

Excepted choppy dialogue and narratives. Italian-American Philly/Jersey dialect held true to the story. The tone and and Jimmy's recounting of the details the way he remembers it lent honesty and kept my interest. It was very detailed sometimes lost the story inside the the story. Reading about places you know, people you knew, and what sounds like a 60's and 70's gig was surreal to me. I kept saying to myself, "and this is now". During my time! I couldn't put it down.

[Jared · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was definitely written by a lawyer. It is a story but it feels more like a list of facts. If you want to know how big sports gambling works and why you will never win gambling on sports, this is the book if you can get through the dry narrative. I really enjoyed learning how gambling works (a 1/2 dozen guys in the WORLD control the lines and money made on sports gambling). The NBA referee who was caught gambling sounds like a slimeball (Tim Donnaughy, sp?)but there wasn't as much about him as I thought it would be considering he was the basis for the book.

[Hallie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating topic, and one that I had heard nothing about prior to picking up this book as most sports simply aren't on my radar. This book was a great source of insight into the world of sports gambling. Only complaint that I had is the tone in which the book was written - for most of the book it understandably tries to present the story of this scandal from the point of view of Jimmy Battista, the primary person of interest for purposes of this book. I assume that the tone that was taken for most of the book is meant to be representative of how Battista presented himself in interviews or conversations. While understandable, it makes for very choppy and not particularly pleasant reading. The book took a much better turn towards the end where I think the author's true voice takes over and the writing becomes much smoother.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at how sports markets can be manipulated, and the book presents a case for why professional sports leagues fought to keep a wall between them and the sports betting industry. Obviously, that's changed recently with gambling front and center in NBA, NFL, MLB, etc. marketing materials and partnerships. The story of Jimmy Battista proved to be more fascinating to me than the slice of his life that involved NBA referee Tim Donaghy and the NBA gambling scandal. In fact, the court case resolution chapters toward the end of the book were the least interesting to me. On the whole, the story is complex, and Sean Patrick Griffin does a nice job of building a compelling narrative around the main characters.

[Mike Cheng · Rating 2 out of 5]

Contrary to the book’s subtitle and description, the lion’s share of this book is about Jimmy Battista and his life as a professional gambler; little is actually devoted to the 2007 NBA betting scandal or disgraced referee Tim Donaghy. Those interested in Mr. Battista and the processes of bookmaking, handicapping, etc. will enjoy this, especially if the sobriquets ‘Chinaman’ or ‘the Computer’ ring a bell. However, disappointment lurks for those (like me) who expect thrilling insight on the aforementioned NBA scandal or Donaghy - though if it’s any consolation this book’s appendix does competently refute the veracity of Donaghy’s own memoir, Personal Foul.

[Travis Goodkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very thorough and detailed account of the NBA betting scandal and the sports betting world as a whole circa the early 2000s. Bit of a strange read in 2024 just based on how much the world and the sports gambling industry has changed in the time since this book was published, but all in all still a very good read for anyone seeking to understand the sports gambling underworld and how the NBA betting scandal came to be!

As some other reviews have mentioned - is the writing the most beautiful prose you’ve ever read? No, definitely not. But it’s perfectly adequate to present the facts in an understandable manner.

[John Hannam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite being more of a dry read - this is a fanatically researched book. I was impressed by the level of depth the author went to source his information. Great insight into one of the most historically significant NBA scandals. A must read for NBA fans.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

I dug this. Real deep dive into an underworld/subculture. The writing got a little tedious, but I learned a lot.

[Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly intensive research went into this, clearly. Very illuminating into the organized chaos of sports betting pre-internet and pre-legalization. Also, uproariously funny.

[Dave Cottenie · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Gaming The Game” looks at the gambler behind the NBA betting scandal with disgraced referee Tim Donaghy. Jimmy Battista was an interesting story and a look behind the curtain of professional gambling, bookmaking and handicapping. An interesting look going full circle from the beginning of Battista’s career to the end of his freedom.

[ChrisAntko92 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Griff daddy is the 🐐

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was a disappointment to me. For some reason I had hyped this book up in my mind before I finally got to read it. I already knew a little of the back story behind this one but found that reading the actual book was tedious.

The story that this book tries to tell is an interesting one, but I feel that the book adds unnecessary complication to it. Pick up on this story from other sources such as YouTube and news reports.

[Carlee]

I was so bored while reading this book, that I gave up at about Chapter 8.

[Ted Bulling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probablilities in sport