The NBA faces an unprecedented scandal in the United States: over 30 arrests linked to illegal betting and sports fraud involving players and coaches.
The NBA is under intense scrutiny following a massive scandal involving illegal betting and fraud affecting professional basketball in the United States and members of organized crime.
Authorities announced Thursday the arrest of more than 30 people in connection with two parallel investigations: one concerning illegal sports betting and the other involving rigged poker games.
Arrested individuals include Chauncey Billups, coach of the Portland Trail Blazers; Terry Rozier, a player for the Miami Heat; and Damon Jones, a former NBA player for teams including the Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, and Cleveland Cavaliers.
The NBA stated that Rozier and Billups would be immediately suspended while allegations are investigated, underscoring its commitment to maintaining the sport’s integrity.
Federal prosecutor Joseph Nocella Jr. explained that the cases are linked. In the first case, six defendants face charges for conducting illegal betting between December 2022 and March 2024.
Investigators allege they used insider information about NBA players and teams to place large bets, especially on individual statistics known as prop bets. Some players reportedly altered their performance or left games early, affecting outcomes, according to New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
Nocella described this case as “one of the most blatant sports corruption schemes since online illegal betting was legalized widely in the United States.”
Among the suspect games was the March 23, 2023 match between the Charlotte Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans. Rozier, then with Charlotte, allegedly alerted others to a “fake injury,” allowing them to win large sums. He played only nine and a half minutes, citing foot pain. His attorney insists Rozier is innocent, stating that he is not a gambler and that the investigation relies on highly unreliable sources.
Defendants face conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering charges. Illegal betting was banned in most of the United States until 2018, when the Supreme Court allowed states to regulate it.
Betting has surged since then: in the first eight months of 2025 alone, Americans wagered nearly $100 billion through legal channels, a 12% increase over 2023, according to the American Gaming Association.
The second case involves 31 defendants, including Billups and Jones, tied to rigged poker games since 2019 in locations such as The Hamptons, Las Vegas, Miami, and Manhattan.
Authorities estimate that the scheme defrauded around $7 million, including a victim who lost $1 million. Organizers used modified card shufflers that could read cards and transmit the information to an accomplice known as the “quarterback,” who indicated winning hands to others at the table.
Victims, called “fish,” played against former athletes and celebrities, known as “face cards,” unaware that games were rigged, resulting in significant losses.
FBI Director Kash Patel described the operation as a historic blow to organized crime, linking the NBA to Italian-American mafia families in New York, including Bonanno, Genovese, and Gambino. Raids and arrests were coordinated across 11 states.
Chauncey Billups, 49, and Hall of Fame inductee since 2023, coached the Trail Blazers just hours before his arrest, while Rozier was in Miami preparing for a game against Orlando. Both will be prosecuted in Brooklyn.
The scandal poses an unprecedented challenge for the NBA and U.S. authorities, highlighting how illegal betting and corruption can infiltrate the highest levels of professional basketball. The league has pledged to strengthen internal controls and fully cooperate with justice officials to prevent similar incidents in the future, emphasizing the need to protect the integrity of one of the country’s most popular sports.
