Federal investigators charge more than 30 people — including Portland coach Chauncey Billups and Miami’s Terry Rozier — in a sprawling insider-betting and rigged-poker operation that threatens the integrity of professional sports.
What Happened
A joint investigation by the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York has led to more than 30 arrests tied to two intertwined schemes: an insider-sports-betting network and a Mafia-backed high-stakes poker ring.
Among those charged are Chauncey Billups, head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, and Terry Rozier, guard for the Miami Heat. Prosecutors allege that insiders leaked non-public information on injuries and playing time to help gamblers profit on “under” bets — while others participated in poker games secretly rigged with x-ray tables, hidden lenses, and digital card readers.
The indictment also cites connections to New York’s Bonanno, Genovese, Gambino, and Lucchese crime families, who allegedly provided muscle and money-laundering support.
Inside the Operation
Authorities say the schemes spanned multiple states — including New York, Nevada, and Florida — and moved “tens of millions” of dollars through offshore accounts and crypto wallets.
In one example, Rozier allegedly informed associates he would exit a March 2023 game early, triggering a surge of bets against his performance line. In the poker ring, former athletes dubbed “face cards” helped lure wealthy amateurs to rigged games that ensured near-certain losses.
The investigation began after federal agents intercepted communications linking organized-crime figures to private games involving active NBA staff.
Fallout Across the League
The NBA placed both Billups and Rozier on immediate leave. League officials said they are cooperating fully with federal authorities and reviewing internal betting-education programs.
Legal experts say the arrests mark one of the most serious integrity crises since the 2007 NBA referee scandal. Sponsors, sportsbooks, and compliance teams are bracing for ripple effects that could extend well beyond basketball.
The Bigger Picture
The scandal lands at a time when legal sports betting in America has exploded into a $149 billion industry — up from $7 billion in 2018, the year the Supreme Court lifted the federal ban on sports wagering. What began as a niche market has become a national pastime, woven into broadcasts, fantasy leagues, and even in-arena promotions.
That meteoric rise has also exposed the industry’s weakest link: access. As players, coaches, and insiders navigate a landscape where betting is legal but deeply conflicted with their roles, regulators are struggling to keep pace. For organized-crime networks, the stakes are higher than ever — and so are the incentives to exploit the cracks.
The NBA’s current crisis is a stress test for an industry that went from fringe to mainstream almost overnight. With $149 billion on the table, the question is when and if more scandals emerge, how prepared the leagues, sportsbooks, and law enforcement will be when they do.
And perhaps the biggest question of all: how will this scandal impact fans’ trust in professional sports?
