NBA sends memo to teams after gambling-related arrests
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The NBA told its 30 teams on Monday that it was launching a review of how the league can protect the integrity of the game and its players after two people allegedly involved in a gambling scheme investigated by the FBI were placed on leave.
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups were among those arrested in the FBI operation. Former NBA player and coach Damon Jones was also arrested.
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Basketball Hall of Fame 2024 inductee Chauncey Billups speaks during the Hall of Fame news conference at Mohegan Sun on October 12, 2024 in Uncasville, Connecticut. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, file)
“Given the expansion of legal betting into a majority of U.S. states, the recurrence of integrity issues across sports, and the emergence of new betting formats and markets, this is an opportune time to carefully re-evaluate how sports betting should be regulated and how sports leagues can best protect themselves, their players, and their fans,” the NBA’s legal department said in a memo to the team, according to The Associated Press.
Rozier was accused of conspiring with his associates to help them win bets based on statistical performance in a game he played for the Charlotte Hornets in March 2023.
Sports betting sites detected an unusual betting pattern, including prop bets, involving Rozier in the Charlotte game in question. The bets were flagged and immediately brought to the league’s attention. The league initially cleared Rozier of any wrongdoing.
“While unusual bets on Terry Rozier’s ‘underdog’ in March 2023 were detected in real time because the bets were made legally, we believe there is more that can be done from a legal/regulatory standpoint to protect the integrity of the NBA and our affiliated leagues,” the league said in a statement. expressions were used.
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) watches the second half of the NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
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“In particular, bid bets on individual player performance involve high integrity concerns and require additional scrutiny.”
The league said it would review injury reports as part of the investigation. Jones was accused of informing his colleagues about the injury status of LeBron James and Anthony Davis before the Los Angeles Lakers game. There was no indication that James or Davis had any knowledge of what Jones was accused of doing.
“Given that sports betting currently occupies such a significant portion of the current sports landscape, every effort must be made to ensure that players, coaches, and other NBA personnel are fully aware of the dire risks that gambling can pose to their careers and livelihoods; that our injury disclosure rules are appropriate and that players are protected from harassment by bettors.” he added.
A Congressional committee has asked NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for a briefing by the end of this week to discuss issues including how there are “gaps in existing regulations that allow illegal betting schemes to occur.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks before the Paris Games 2025 NBA basketball game between the San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers at Accor Arena on January 23, 2025. (Stephanie Lecocq/Reuters via Imagn Images)
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Silver argued that he would prefer federal regulation of sports betting over the current state-by-state approach.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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