Miami Heat player Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups have reportedly been arrested by the FBI.
This is an evolving story, please check back for updates.
12:00 – Americans increasingly sceptical of legal sports betting
A new Pew Research Center survey shows public concern over legal sports betting is rising, with 43% of US adults now saying it is bad for society, up from 34% in 2022, and 40% viewing it as bad for sports, up from 33%. Awareness of legal betting has also grown with 63% of adults report hearing or reading about it, compared with 56% three years ago.
Despite these concerns, sports betting participation has remained steady, with 22% of adults reporting they’ve placed a bet in the past year. Online betting has grown the most, rising from 6% in 2022 to 10% in 2025. Young adults under 30, especially men, and Black Americans are the most likely to have placed an online sports wager.
This new research brings up some interesting points, particularly given both Rozier and Billups fall into at least one of the categories highlighted, Black or under 30, where sports betting participation is higher. An investigation of this scale, and the disruption it has caused within the NBA, will likely bring more scrutiny to the sports betting sector, even as the league maintains the operators involved were themselves victims.
09:45 – What’s next in the case
Billups is scheduled to appear in Brooklyn federal court on November 24, while Rozier’s next court date has been set for December 8.
As part of his release, Billups handed over his passport, must post a substantial bond and can only travel within Oregon and Colorado. He is also prohibited from any gambling-related activity.
Rozier secured his release by using his Florida home as bond and surrendering his passport. His travel will be restricted to the continental US and he is also prohibited from gambling while the case is ongoing.
09:30 – Billups and Rozier make first court appearances
Following their arrests, Billups and Rozier appeared before judges in separate federal courts on Thursday.
Billups’ initial hearing took place in Portland, Oregon, while Rozier faced a judge in Orlando, Florida, wearing a Charlotte Hornets sweatshirt.
Both men were granted release under specific conditions, after prosecutors urged the court to impose strict bail terms. In documents filed to the court, prosecutors also highlighted Billups’ “significant financial resources” when outlining their recommendations.
09:00 – Billups “will fight,” says attorney
Billups’ attorney, Chris Heywood, issued a statement on Thursday describing his client as a “man of integrity” who intends to fight the charges.
“Anyone who knows Chauncey Billups knows he is a man of integrity; men of integrity do not cheat and defraud others.
“To believe that Chauncey Billups did what the federal government is accusing him of is to believe that he would risk his hall-of-fame legacy, his reputation, and his freedom. He would not jeopardise those things for anything, let alone a card game.
“Furthermore, Chauncey Billups has never and would never gamble on basketball games, provide insider information, or sacrifice the trust of his team and the League, as it would tarnish the game he has devoted his entire life to.
“Chauncey Billups has never backed down. He does not plan to do so now. He will fight these allegations with the same tenacity that marked his 28-year career. We look forward to our day in court.”
08:30 – NBA publishes a statement
“We are in the process of reviewing federal indictments announced today (October 23). Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups are being placed on immediate leave from their teams, and we will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities. We take these allegations with the upmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority.”
08:00 – Catching up after overnight developments
Insider Sport is catching up on the latest updates surrounding the NBA investigations after overnight developments. As this story broke late in the day UK time, there may be a brief gap in our live coverage from last night. We’ll be bringing you everything that’s happened since then.
16:10 – Spotlight on the NBA’s relationship with the gambling industry
There will likely be increased scrutiny on the sports betting industry as this case unfolds, particularly given the NBA’s deepening commercial ties with licensed sportsbooks since the legalisation of sports betting in the US.
Since the launch of the regulated market in 2018, the NBA has positioned itself as one of the most open major leagues to betting partnerships. In 2021, FanDuel and DraftKings became the official NBA betting partners, granting them rights to integrate live betting features, in-game promotions and interactive experiences directly into NBA broadcasts.
Answering a question from press in attendance, FBI Assistant Director Nocella notes despite the nature of the crimes, the regulated betting operators were not complicit in the alleged misconduct.
“The sportsbooks themselves are victims in this case,” Nocella said.
16:00 – NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch gives example of NBA betting scheme
During the press conference, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch outlines an alleged example of rigged sports betting activity involving Miami Heat player Terry Rozier.
Tish says the incident occurred on March 23, 2023, while Rozier was still playing for the Charlotte Hornets:
“In Charlotte, Terry Rozier, an NBA player now with the Miami Heat but at the time playing for the Hornets, allegedly let others close to him know that he planned to leave the game early with a supposed injury.
“Using that information, members of the group placed more than $200,000 in wagers on his under statistics. Rozier exited the game after just nine minutes, and those bets paid out, generating tens of thousands of dollars in profit. The proceeds were later delivered to his home, where the group counted their cash.
“As the NBA season tips off, his career is already benched. Not for injury. For integrity.”
15:40 – FBI details rigged poker operation dating back to 2019
Federal prosecutors say the second scheme began as early as 2019, when organisers allegedly used wireless cheating technology to rig high-stakes poker games across the US.
According to Nocella, victims, referred to as “fish”, were lured with the promise of playing against former professional athletes, including Chauncey Billups and Damon Jones. In reality, “everyone was in on it except the fish,” Nocella explains. Victims were defrauded of tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars per game.
The athletes involved, known within the group as “face cards”, allegedly took part in the rigged matches. Once games began, the conspirators used altered shuffling machines capable of reading cards and identifying winning hands. That data was transmitted to an off-site operator, who then sent instructions back to a “quarterback” at the table, the person responsible for signalling players on how to play each hand.
Investigators say additional cheating tools included modified contact lenses, specialised glasses, and even x-ray tables designed to read facedown cards.
The games were reportedly organised and protected by mafia-linked groups, who also collected debts and laundered profits through cash payments, shell companies and cryptocurrency transfers.
Defendants connected to the poker operation are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and related financial crimes.
15:30 – Details of the betting schemes revealed
Nocella outlines how the defendants allegedly profited from prop bets, wagers placed on individual player performance, by using straw bettors to conceal their involvement and maximise winnings. Prosecutors say the group then laundered the proceeds, making millions from games involving the Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Toronto Raptors.
Each defendant is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to Nocella, the defendants used non-public information about when specific players would sit out games or leave early due to “injuries” or “illnesses”. He says they exploited friendships with NBA players and coaches to obtain inside information and in one case, even threatened Jontay Porter, over gambling debts.
Prosecutors allege the group used this insider information to place hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent bets, both online and in person at casinos.
15:15 – US Attorney outlines two indictments
US Attorney Joseph Nocella details the first set of charges, involving six defendants accused of participating in an illegal sports-betting conspiracy tied to NBA athletes and teams.
A second indictment names 31 defendants in a nationwide scheme to rig underground poker games, some held in the New York area and allegedly backed by organised crime families. Nocella notes that while the two cases are separate, three defendants overlap between them, including former NBA player Damon Jones.
Nocella said: “Your winning streak has ended. Your luck has run out. Violating the law is a losing proposition and you can bet on that.”
15:00 – Press conference begins
FBI Director Kash Patel opens the news conference by calling today’s arrests a “historic moment” and a step toward “profound justice.” Patel says the investigation uncovered years of illegal gambling and sports-betting activity that spanned multiple states and sports circles.
He confirms more than thirty individuals have been arrested so far, describing the scope of the fraud as “mind-boggling,” with tens of millions of dollars in illicit funds exchanged. Patel adds that the probe exposes “a network of corruption that has undermined the integrity of professional sports for far too long.”
14:45 – Rozier’s attorney releases statement
Rozier’s attorney Jim Trusty told CNN Sports:
“We have represented Terry Rozier for over a year. A long time ago we reached out to these prosecutors to tell them we should have an open line of communication. They characterised Terry as a subject, not a target, but at 6 am this morning they called to tell me FBI agents were trying to arrest him in a hotel,” Trusty said.
“It is unfortunate that instead of allowing him to self surrender they opted for a photo op. They wanted the misplaced glory of embarrassing a professional athlete with a perp walk. That tells you a lot about the motivations in this case. They appear to be taking the word of spectacularly in-credible sources rather than relying on actual evidence of wrongdoing.
“Terry was cleared by the NBA and these prosecutors revived that non-case. Terry is not a gambler, but he is not afraid of a fight, and he looks forward to winning this fight.”
14:30 – Billups’ arrest linked to illegal Mafia poker operation
According to the Department of Justice, Billups’ case is connected to an illegal poker operation with ties to the Mafia. The FBI investigation forms part of a broader probe into members of the La Cosa Nostra crime families, a network of Italian-American organised crime groups that has operated in the US since the 1920s.
The five-time NBA All-Star was arrested in Oregon, where he is expected to make his initial court appearance later today. Billups appeared on the sideline as recently as Wednesday night, coaching the Portland Trail Blazers in their first match of the season, a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Further details are expected to be released during a press conference scheduled for 10 am ET, where officials are set to provide the latest developments in the ongoing investigation.
14:00 – Rozier case linked to Jontay Porter scandal
Reports have emerged suggesting Rozier’s case may be connected to the gambling scandal involving former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter, who was banned from the NBA in July 2024 for his role in a betting scheme involving player prop wagers.
Porter pleaded guilty to wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced in December 2025. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, though prosecutors have recommended a reduced term of 41 to 51 months.
The NBA launched an investigation into suspicious betting activity after wagers were flagged by the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA). That investigation uncovered evidence linking Porter to a betting conspiracy aimed at repaying gambling debts.
According to court filings, Porter provided insider information to a group of co-conspirators, who allegedly encouraged him to exit certain NBA games early to influence the outcome of player prop bets.
“I knew what I did was wrong and unlawful, and I’m deeply sorry for my conduct,” Porter told Brooklyn Federal Judge James R. Cho during his arraignment in July 2024.
13:45 – FBI arrests Rozier and Billups
The arrests are allegedly in connection with an ongoing sports gambling investigation, according to reports from ESPN Senior NBA Insider Shams Charania.
Details surrounding the arrests remain limited, and it is currently unclear whether the two cases are connected.
Charania first reported early on October 23 that Rozier was taken into custody as part of an FBI-led sports betting probe, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The Eastern District of New York and FBI Director Kash Patel are expected to hold a press conference at 10 am ET (3 pm GMT) to announce arrests linked to the investigation.
Roughly 30 minutes later, Charania posted on X that Billups had also been arrested by the FBI over alleged illegal gambling activity.
As of publication, neither the Miami Heat nor the Portland Trail Blazers have issued statements, and the NBA has not yet commented on the reports.
Further updates are expected following the FBI’s press conference.
