point-shaving
/ˈpɔɪnt ˌʃeɪvɪŋ/
Definition
A form of sports corruption where players intentionally manipulate the game's score—without necessarily losing—to ensure a specific outcome for the benefit of illegal gamblers.
Etymology
The term originated in the 1950s, combining 'point'—referring to the betting spread in sports—and 'shaving,' implying a subtle reduction or modification of the score to stay within that spread. It evolved within the context of American college sports scandals to describe the precise act of limiting a team's score to defraud betting markets.
In the news
In this article, a basketball player was accused of being part of a scheme to influence the final margin of a game to help gamblers win their bets. The player is disputing these claims, arguing it is logically impossible for him to have influenced a game he did not play in.
Former Alabama State basketball player denies role in point-shaving scheme
Read the full article ↗Yahoo Sports