Federal investigators have uncovered an extensive network linking professional basketball insiders and organized crime groups in two far-reaching gambling conspiracies. More than thirty people were taken into custody this week, among them Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, and former NBA player Damon Jones.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, one case involves illegal betting on NBA games using confidential team information, while the other accuses defendants of operating crooked poker games financed and protected by members of the Bonanno, Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese crime families. Prosecutors say together the schemes generated millions of dollars through deception and manipulation.
In the sports-betting case, officials claim Rozier and several others obtained private medical or lineup information and placed wagers before that information was made public. One example cited in court papers involves a 2023 Charlotte Hornets game in which Rozier allegedly told associates he would leave early with an injury, allowing them to profit from insider bets. His lawyer, Jim Trusty, rejected the accusations, saying Rozier “never fabricated an injury and intends to clear his name.”
The second indictment describes elaborate cheating devices used in underground poker games in New York, Las Vegas, Miami, and the Hamptons. Prosecutors say Billups, Jones, and their associates relied on altered card shufflers, x-ray poker tables, and marked cards visible through special contact lenses to predetermine outcomes and swindle unsuspecting players. Investigators estimate victims lost at least seven million dollars, with organized crime figures collecting a portion of the earnings in exchange for enforcement and protection.
Billups appeared in an Oregon courtroom and was released on bond after agreeing to surrender his passport and avoid gambling or contact with co-defendants. His attorney, Chris Heywood, said the former Finals MVP “has always conducted himself with honesty” and will vigorously contest the charges.
The NBA announced that both Billups and Rozier have been placed on leave while the league cooperates with federal authorities. In Portland, assistant coach Tiago Splitter will serve as interim head coach. League officials reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the fairness of competition and said the investigation will determine next steps.
The scandal comes amid a rapid expansion of legalized sports wagering in the United States. Since the Supreme Court allowed states to regulate betting in 2018, fans have been inundated with gambling advertisements, partnerships, and mobile-app promotions. Critics say that close relationship between professional leagues and betting platforms has blurred ethical boundaries and increased the temptation for insider abuse.
Several lawmakers, including Senator Richard Blumenthal, have renewed calls for stronger federal oversight, arguing that gambling interests have “eroded trust in sports.” Betting companies such as DraftKings and FanDuel said they are cooperating with investigators and reviewing their monitoring systems for irregular activity.
As court proceedings begin in New York and Oregon, many questions remain unanswered—especially regarding who else may have benefited from the schemes. For the NBA and the broader sports world, the arrests have ignited an uncomfortable debate about how deeply gambling has become embedded in the modern game.
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