Is there anybody left in America who’s shocked, shocked to find that crooked gambling is going on in here? As professional sports leagues have embraced lucrative legal betting, it has created temptations that go beyond the stands and the fans.
Now the feds accuse a current NBA player of tipping off gamblers about a planned injury, while a coach is charged with taking part in poker games rigged by the New York mob.
Seven years ago the Supreme Court struck down a federal law that effectively banned sports betting in most states, which has since proliferated. The NBA has DraftKings and FanDuel as official gaming partners.
“In the first eight months of this year, Americans legally wagered $99.09 billion with commercial sportsbook operators,” the American Gaming Association recently said. Practically anything can be a wager, including the color of Gatorade that will get dumped on the NFL coach who wins the Super Bowl.
“This is the insider trading saga for the NBA,” FBI Director Kash Patel said Thursday, unveiling two indictments of more than 30 people. Among the defendants is Terry Rozier, who plays for the Miami Heat. Before a 2023 game, when he was with the Charlotte Hornets, prosecutors say Mr. Rozier alerted an associate that he would “prematurely remove himself” for a “supposed injury.” That information was sold to gamblers, who profited from betting on his performance.
Also named is Damon Jones, a former NBA player with ties to the Los Angeles Lakers. Prosecutors allege that before a 2023 game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Mr. Jones sent a text message to an unnamed co-conspirator, saying “[Player 3]” would be unable to take the court. “Get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight,” he wrote, “before the information is out!”
Two of the defendants who allegedly placed or organized bets are now accused as well of involvement with the gambling scandal of Jontay Porter, the former Toronto Raptors player who was banned from the NBA and last year pleaded guilty to a federal crime.
According to the feds, these two bet on games after getting word that Mr. Porter similarly planned to exit with purported injuries.
Thursday’s second indictment accuses Mr. Jones and Chauncey Billups, the coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, of participating in rigged poker games, in cahoots with affiliates of the Genovese, Gambino, Lucchese and Bonanno crime families.
The “former professional athletes” helped lure wealthy players to the card table, prosecutors say, and they received a cut of the proceeds. Victims were taken for $7 million, with help from rigged shuffling machines and other technology.
All of the accused are presumed innocent before trial, and court records don’t yet show that any pleas have been entered. Mr. Rozier’s lawyer said his client “looks forward to winning this fight.” He and Mr. Billups were put on leave from their teams.
The NBA said it is reviewing the indictments, and “the integrity of our game remains our top priority.”
That’s what they always say, but the league and commissioner Adam Silver have a credibility problem. Fans have a right to expect fair and honest competition, but sports leagues promote and profit from gambling.
The turn toward seeing every play, point and turnover as a potential jackpot isn’t good for confidence. There’s a reason Congress tried to ban this in the first place, which the public might be rediscovering.
Gambling has a long history of attracting crooks. Addictive legal bets can spiral toward illegality.
“I know what I did was wrong and unlawful,” Mr. Porter told the court during his plea hearing. He did it anyway, he said, “to get out from under large gambling debts accumulated over time.” Maybe the NBA should clip that for a PSA.
