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. Here is what we know about the cases.
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. They also used an X-ray table that could read cards that were face down. The victims were allegedly lured to play in these games with former professional athletes, who acted as face cards in the scheme. The victims were unaware that everyone, including the dealer and the other players, were in on the scam.
Authorities stated that 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 cryptocurrencies. They are also alleged to have committed acts of violence, including a robbery at gunpoint and extortion against victims. Both schemes amounted to tens of millions of dollars in theft and robbery across several years and 11 states, authorities said.
Which players have been arrested?
All in all, authorities say 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.
New York police commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that in March 2023, Rozier, then playing for the Charlotte Hornets, allegedly let others close to him know that he planned to leave a game early with a supposed injury. Members of the group then used that information to place fraudulent bets and cash out big, she said.
Authorities identified a total of seven NBA games between February 2023 and March 2024 that were part of the case, including games involving the Los Angeles Lakers and the Charlotte Hornets.
What has the NBA said about the allegations?
The NBA has announced it is reviewing the federal indictments and cooperating with authorities. Additionally, Rozier and Billups are on immediate leave from their teams while the league emphasizes the importance of integrity in the game.
Who are New York's notorious 'Five Families'?
The alleged scheme involved four of the five well-known crime families of New York; the Bonanno, Colombo, Gambino, and Genovese families. Their historical dominance potentially connects them to organized crime activities today, as recent events suggest their influence endures amid ongoing law enforcement efforts.
