Big story that seems to have broke over the pond today about a gambling and sports scheme involving the NBA and four of New York's five Italian American crime families.
NBA head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier have been arrested in separate, but related, illegal gambling cases tied to organised crime, according to federal authorities.
The FBI says more than 30 people were taken into custody on October 23, 2025, in two investigations: one alleging insider sports betting and another involving rigged high-stakes poker games. Former NBA player Damon Jones is also among those charged.
Prosecutors allege some bettors used non-public information about player availability and performance, and in certain instances players altered their play to manipulate prop bets. In a separate indictment, officials say underground poker games were rigged using special contact lenses, marked cards and even X-ray poker tables, with members of New York crime families allegedly helping organise games, enforce debts and launder proceeds.
Authorities estimate the schemes funneled tens of millions of dollars over several years and defrauded victims of at least $7 million.
The NBA says Billups and Rozier have been placed on immediate leave while the league reviews the federal indictments and cooperates with authorities. An attorney for Rozier says he denies wrongdoing and will fight the charges. Officials stressed that the investigations are ongoing and that all defendants are presumed innocent.
NBA head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier have been arrested in separate, but related, illegal gambling cases tied to organised crime, according to federal authorities.
The FBI says more than 30 people were taken into custody on October 23, 2025, in two investigations: one alleging insider sports betting and another involving rigged high-stakes poker games. Former NBA player Damon Jones is also among those charged.
Prosecutors allege some bettors used non-public information about player availability and performance, and in certain instances players altered their play to manipulate prop bets. In a separate indictment, officials say underground poker games were rigged using special contact lenses, marked cards and even X-ray poker tables, with members of New York crime families allegedly helping organise games, enforce debts and launder proceeds.
Authorities estimate the schemes funneled tens of millions of dollars over several years and defrauded victims of at least $7 million.
The NBA says Billups and Rozier have been placed on immediate leave while the league reviews the federal indictments and cooperates with authorities. An attorney for Rozier says he denies wrongdoing and will fight the charges. Officials stressed that the investigations are ongoing and that all defendants are presumed innocent.
