Adin Ross’s Crawford Bet-Switch Sparks Conspiracies, Fake AGA Letter
Social media users are talking about internet celebrity Adin Ross's sudden decision to switch a $1 million wager from Canelo Alvarez to Terence Crawford just minutes before Saturday's fight. Some people believe this could be a sign of improper behavior or that the fight was rigged.
Viewers saw the influencer answer a call from an unidentified person off-screen, which caused him to abruptly shift to the favorite.
“Jordan, we’re switching the bet,” Ross told his manager on returning to the room. “We’re definitely switching our bet. I can’t talk about it. I’m telling you right now, we’re going Crawford. Cash out. I’ll tell you guys off-stream… All I’m going to say, chat, is I got one of those calls.”
Álvarez was later defeated by Crawford via unanimous decision. Although the precise price at which Ross locked in his $1 million stake has not been confirmed, it would have resulted in a $1.4 million profit.
False Letter
The publication of a letter allegedly written by the American Gaming Association (AGA) stoked wild online speculation that Ross was acting on "insider information" provided by the unidentified person.
The letter, shared on X by user “@NotUlxa,” adds that the “Gaming Integrity Commission” had started a preliminary investigation into “allegations [that] have surfaced that a digital personality … may have received or disclosed information not otherwise available to the public prior to the official commencement of wagering activity”.
The letter is obviously fraudulent, though, in part because there is no such thing as a "Gaming Integrity Commission." Furthermore, the AGA is a trade association rather than a regulatory entity, and the author's allusion to "the official commencement of wagering" betrays a fundamental ignorance of how sports betting operates.
The AGA has been contacted by Casino.org for confirmation.
No reports have indicated that there was a pre-bout injury, and there is no proof that the fight was "rigged" or that Ross had inside knowledge of one.
“It’s not rigged… there’s no inside bulls—, I promise you that,” Ross later clarified in the chat. He added that the caller told him the fight was “closer than everyone thinks,” and if it’s a 50/50 pick ’em, “you’ve got to go with the higher odds.”
Negative Optics
Ross, who has seven million Twitch followers, should probably exercise more caution when revealing his wagers during live streams, though, as he has the potential to influence the markets.
A streamer in Ross's shoes may, for instance, declare a huge bet on the favorite, encouraging followers to swarm in and drive those odds further down, then covertly hedge on the underdog while the price is still high. Theoretically, holding those two jobs may ensure a profit; it would be unethical but not illegal.
Once more, there is no proof that Ross was involved in this activity, and although conspiracy theorists may find it disappointing, his own explanation is still the most likely one. Although the market had been leaning in Crawford's favor before to the opening bell, there is no time-stamped, publicly available proof that sportsbooks altered their odds as a result of Ross's feed.
