In the follow-up to a gaming scandal that rocked the Alabama baseball program, an overview by a major media outlet details what exactly went down. Per a report from Pat Forde at Sports Illustrated, on April 28, Bert Eugene Neff Jr. walked into the BetMGM Sportsbook at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati in possession of a large amount of cash, looking to “make a huge score.” Three people familiar with the investigation told S.I. that Neff wanted to bet more than $100,000 on a college baseball game that night with virtually no gambling traffic: Alabama at No. 1 LSU. The aftermath of this event led to the dismissal of Alabama baseball coach Brad Bohannon and perhaps even more repercussions for the program and other players involved if that is the case.
In this report, SBS will cover the latest gaming news coming out of the state of Alabama along with more notes and information about betting in the Cotton State.
According to the article from SI’s Pat Forde, Neff’s desired bets on the Tigers far exceeded the sportsbook’s established house limit on college baseball. “Fueled by hubris, and perhaps, desperation, Neff stood at the window and pleaded his case for making the huge wager to the book’s staff,” sources said in the report. Moreover, he indicated he had inside information on the game, and he did, in the palm of his hand. Neff was texting with Alabama baseball coach Bohannon via an encrypted messaging app called Signal, while at the betting window, attempting to place the wager.
As referenced in the article, his texting was indiscreet, to the point that the book’s video surveillance cameras were able to zoom in on the details of Neff and Bohannon’s text exchange. This made the latter’s name visible later in screenshots. “Video cameras can see the text conversation back-and-forth and it could not have been any more reckless,” a source familiar with the incident says.
Per the same report, the inside information that Neff had received was Alabama was scratching its ace starting pitcher for the game, Luke Holman, due to back tightness. He was then going to be replaced by Hagan Banks, who hadn’t started a game since mid-March. Moreover, Bohannon was not an unwitting pawn, sources said. The Crimson Tide coach was aware that Neff was placing bets on LSU and against his team. However, it is unclear whether Bohannon was himself wagering on the game through Neff, but Bohannon knew what was transpiring. One of the people familiar with the investigation said Bohannon was part of an ongoing text chain with Neff and his gambling associates.
The suspicious bets were flagged quickly by a wagering integrity firm contracted by BetMGM called U.S. Integrity, which has many other clients throughout the gambling and sports industries. Per protocol, U.S. Integrity forwarded the information to the Ohio Casino Control Commission and the Southeastern Conference, which are both clients. After a brief internal investigation, Alabama swiftly fired Bohannon on May 4.
Once you are all dialed in reference to the latest gaming and wagering news coming from Alabama, make sure to also maximize the variety of resources SBS has for you. Of course, if you are interested in more information on the Cotton State, the SBS sports betting in Alabama guide is a great place to check out for the latest news. Conversely, for those on the go, a fantastic page to bookmark is the SBS best betting apps breakdown which goes over the nuances and perks of mobile betting. Finally, if you are perhaps intrigued by some higher stakes gaming, then the SBS VIP sports betting sites rundown is an excellent resource. Here you can learn more about VIP betting and if it might be the right fit for you.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
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