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The new NBA season opened under a cloud as the FBI moved on a sweeping sports-gambling probe, arresting several high-profile figures connected to both illegal betting and allegedly rigged poker games. The arrests have sent shockwaves through the league, teams and players as details emerge about how the schemes were run and who may be implicated.
What federal investigators say the probe covers
Federal authorities describe two interlocking investigations. One examines the misuse of insider information to affect sports bets. The other targets an alleged nationwide poker ring that used sophisticated technology to cheat players.
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- Scope: multiple cities, years-long work by the FBI.
- Targets: current and former NBA players, coaches and other athletes.
- Alleged losses to victims: at least several million dollars.
Major arrests and immediate fallout
Authorities arrested several people tied to the probes soon after the season started. The actions prompted league and union responses, court filings and administrative moves by NBA teams.
Terry Rozier — charged in sports-betting scheme
- The FBI alleges Rozier provided inside information to influence player-prop bets between 2022 and 2024.
- He was placed on administrative leave by the NBA and reportedly will not receive salary while on leave. His pay may be held in escrow.
- Court documents show prosecutors sought a large bond. A judge instead required collateral tied to his property and ordered him to surrender his passport.
- Rozier’s lawyers have publicly denied wrongdoing and emphasized his cooperation and previous contacts with prosecutors.
- Reports surfaced that Rozier faced an IRS tax lien during the period under review.
Important: The NBA previously investigated related conduct and said it found insufficient evidence, while federal investigators with subpoena power pursued the matter further.
Chauncey Billups — tied to allegedly rigged poker games
- Billups, a head coach and former NBA star, was arrested in connection with an illegal poker operation federal officials say was run by organized-crime figures.
- The FBI alleges the ring recruited victims by putting former athletes at tables and then used methods to skew results.
- Billups was placed on administrative leave and faces criminal proceedings. His legal team has signaled he will contest the charges.
- Bail conditions reported include significant collateral and pretrial restrictions.
Damon Jones — linked to both probes
- Federal charging documents tie Jones to the sports-betting scheme and to the poker operation.
- Investigators say Jones used relationships with active players to obtain injury or status information and passed that to others who bet on games.
- Jones entered a not-guilty plea and was released on bond pending further proceedings.
How prosecutors say the poker ring operated
Investigators describe a highly organized fraud that relied on technology and inside help to steer outcomes and drain victims’ funds.
- Recruitment: Victims were attracted by the chance to play alongside former pro athletes.
- Rigging tools: Alleged use of tampered shuffling machines, marked-card readers, hidden cameras and specialized eyewear.
- Covert operations: An off-site operator reportedly read cards and relayed information to players at the tables.
- Geography: Games allegedly took place in Miami, Las Vegas, the Hamptons and Manhattan.
Federal prosecutors say the scheme spanned years and produced millions in illicit gains for the defendants and losses for victims.
Other athletes and names appearing in reporting
Media investigations and court filings have linked several other well-known athletes to the poker games or to league inquiries. Being named in reporting is not the same as being charged.
- Malik Beasley: Reported to have handed over his phone to investigators. The league’s review reportedly found no conclusive wrongdoing, though the federal probe remains active.
- Kevin Garnett: A former star is reported to have attended a private game in 2019. He has not been indicted.
- Antonio Gates: Reporting ties the former NFL star to hosting a Miami poker event organized by people charged by the DOJ.
- Tyronn Lue: Media accounts place him at a 2019 game that is under scrutiny; Lue has not been accused in federal filings.
- Jontay Porter: The earlier league investigation that produced disciplinary action involved Porter, who received a lifetime ban related to betting schemes.
What teams, the league and the players union are doing
The NBA, teams and the players union moved quickly after arrests to protect legal rights and preserve evidence.
- The NBA placed implicated individuals on administrative leave and has asked teams and staff to preserve documents.
- An independent law firm has been engaged to assist the league’s internal review.
- The players union issued a statement stressing the presumption of innocence and pledged to defend members’ due-process rights.
- Teams have been asked to provide phones, records and other material as part of the league’s fact-finding.
Legal developments to watch
Court filings and plea entries will shape how the cases move forward. Observers expect several key milestones in the coming months.
- Pleadings: Some defendants have entered not-guilty pleas; others face ongoing negotiations.
- Discovery: Prosecutors will disclose evidence, including communications and financial records.
- Labor issues: The union may challenge league decisions about pay and leave while criminal cases proceed.
- Discipline: The NBA has broad authority and could impose fines, suspensions or lifetime bans separate from criminal outcomes.
Where the story stands now
Federal prosecutors say the investigation is extensive and still active. The arrests brought fresh scrutiny to the league’s historic fight against illicit gambling.
As criminal cases progress, teams and the NBA will continue internal reviews while the union monitors players’ rights. New revelations from court records and witness testimony are expected to expand public understanding of how the alleged schemes operated.
