LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 25: Head Coach Chauncey Billups of the Portland Trail Blazers in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on October 25, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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The head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and NBA champion, Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier have both been arrested this morning in connection with a gambling ring that the FBI has investigated per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Billups’ arrest was not connected to basketball, as he was arrested in connection with an alleged illegal poker ring tied to organized crime per ABC. Rozier’s arrest stems from his alleged involvement in sports betting. Rozier has been under investigation by the FBI for some suspicious activity surrounding a game he participated in back in March of 2023, during his time with the Charlotte Hornets.
Sportsbooks saw a spike in Under bets for Rozier during this game, and Rozer only played 9 minutes in this game, leaving early due to a supposed injury. Sportsbooks saw an unusual amount of Under bets for Rozier, which was the catalyst for their investigation into him.
Rozier was arrested this morning at a hotel in Orlando, and Billups was arrested in Portland.
With the rise of sports betting and more specifically professional sports leagues striking deals with these sports betting companies, we have begun to see an increase in gambling related incidents amongst professional athletes.
Former Toronto Raptor Jontay Porter received a lifetime ban from the NBA after it was revealed that he was disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, and betting on NBA games and purposefully limiting his participation in NBA games.
Former Pistons guard Malik Beasley was also under investigation recently after he was accused of betting on his own NBA games.
The rise in these gambling-related incidents being in direct line with the popularization and normalization of sports betting is no coincidence. After so many gambling scandals, the NBA will have no choice but to reevaluate their current regulations regarding players betting, in an effort to discourage future players from doing this.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikaibruce/2025/10/23/chauncey-billups-and-terry-rozier-arrested-in-fbi-gambling-investigation/
