US authorities announced several high-profile arrests on Thursday, including of a star player and a coach in the National Basketball Association (NBA), for alleged illegal sports betting.
Among those in custody are Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat player Terry Rozier, both of whom were reportedly arrested after their teams' games on Wednesday.
The arrests are part of a sweeping investigation into illegal gambling that produced two indictments, the FBI said — one into players who are allegedly faking injuries to influence betting odds, and another involving an illegal poker ring tied to organised crime.
What are the allegations?
FBI Director Kash Patel described the allegations to reporters as mind-boggling. They include indictments in two major cases, officials said, both involving fraud.
The first case is called operation nothing but bet, in which players and associates allegedly used insider information to manipulate wagers on major sports betting platforms. In some cases, players altered their performance or took themselves out of games to ensure those bets were paid out, according to New York City police commissioner Jessica Tisch. Those bets amounted to tens of thousands of dollars in profits.
The second case is more complex in nature, officials said, and involved four of the five major crime families in New York as well as professional athletes. The accused in that case are alleged to have participated in a scheme to rig illegal poker games and steal millions of dollars. They did so using very sophisticated technology including off-the-shelf shuffling machines, special contact lenses and eye glasses to read pre-marked cards, according to authorities.
Authorities said they began probing these poker games in 2019, spanning multiple locations including the Hamptons, Las Vegas, Miami and Manhattan. The accused allegedly laundered profits via bank wires and crypto currencies.
Which players have been arrested?
A total of 34 defendants were indicted on charges related to the two fraud cases. Six were charged in the first case of players allegedly faking injuries to influence betting odds, including Miami Heat player Rozier.
Rozier, while playing for the Charlotte Hornets, allegedly let others close to him know that he planned to leave a game early due to an injury. Members of the group then used that information to place fraudulent bets and cash out big, said Commissioner Tisch.
Former NBA player Damon Jones was also arrested, accused of being involved in two games tied to the scheme. Authorities identified seven NBA games between February 2023 and March 2024 as part of the case.
The second case related to illegal poker games involved a total of 31 defendants, including Coach Billups. Thirteen members and associates of the Bonanno, Genovese and Gambino crime families in New York were also indicted in the illegal poker case, facing charges such as robbery, extortion and illegal gambling.
What has the NBA said about the allegations?
The NBA stated it is reviewing the federal indictments and cooperating with authorities. Rozier and Billups have been placed on immediate leave from their teams, emphasizing the league's commitment to maintaining the integrity of the game.
What are the implications for organized crime?
The alleged scheme involves four of New York's notorious Five Families, illustrating that while mafia activity may have declined in the past, it remains a significant threat as demonstrated by this investigation.
