Written by Queenie

This morning, the Federal Bureau of Investigation alongside U.S. prosecutors announced a sweeping series of arrests in what has been dubbed one of the most scandalous probes into professional sports ever recorded—more than 30 individuals, including 2 major NBA figures, have been detained in connection with illegal gambling operations tied to organized crime. 

🧑‍💼 Who’s Involved

Terry Rozier, guard with the Miami Heat, was arrested in Orlando early today and is accused of funneling non-public NBA game information to a betting ring. Prosecutors say he benefited from insider tips between December 2022 and March 2024 across multiple games. 

Chauncey Billups, head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and former NBA star, was arrested in Oregon in a separate but related investigation. His charges involve participating in rigged high-stakes poker games tied to the Bonanno, Gambino and Genovese Mafia families. 

🕵️ The Schemes & Scope

Investigators say two major criminal operations were disrupted:

One (“Operation Nothing But Bet”) focused on athletes sharing confidential info to benefit bettors. In one alleged incident, Rozier publicly “injured” himself early in a game while undisclosed bets were placed on his performance.  The other (“Operation Royal Flush”) targeted rigged underground poker games, where athletes were used as faces to draw high rollers while cheating technology like modified shuffling machines and X-ray tables were used to guarantee wins. 

📉 Impact on the NBA & Response

The league swiftly responded: both Rozier and Billups have been placed on immediate leave pending further review. The NBA emphasized it will cooperate fully with the investigation and reiterated that the integrity of the game is its “top priority.”  Sports+Betting experts say the arrests expose deep vulnerabilities in professional sports and could lead to sweeping reforms in monitoring, player education and league discipline.

🔍 What to Watch

Further arrests and charges: Prosecutors say the investigation covers 11 states and involves tens of millions of dollars. More names may surface.  Legal fallout: Rozier and Billups face federal charges of wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and other related offenses—each carrying up to 20 years in prison.  League policy changes: Expect the NBA to strengthen its rules surrounding player and coach gambling, insider information and third-party interactions.

This major development underscores how gambling scandals are no longer peripheral concerns for the NBA—they now pose existential threats to the sport’s legitimacy. As the legal process unfolds, this may become a landmark case in how professional sports handle corruption, integrity and criminal enterprise.