November 20th, 20257 mins

NBA Gambling Scandal Explained: Billups, Rozier Arrested in FBI Probe

The NBA's illegal gambling saga took a turn just as the 2025-26 season began, as the FBI arrested multiple people involved in its investigation into sports betting.This investigation has been hanging over the league's head since early 2025, when it was reported that the FBI was looking into players for their roles in potential illegal betting activities. The FBI finally acted in October, arresting several current and former players who are part of the probe.Every sport appears to have its own gambling controversy, but the FBI's investigation seems to be focused on the NBA. The FBI announced that was undergoing two separate investigations that are still ongoing, one into sports betting and one into illegal poker games.Here's the latest on who is involved in the probes.NBA gambling arrest updatesTerry RozierThe FBI arrested Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier as part of a larger sports betting and gambling probe. Rozier was being investigated earlier in 2025 for illegal sports betting, and while ESPN's Shams Charania reported he was cleared in June, that appears to not be the case.Rozier was initially investigated for suspicious betting patterns while he was with the Charlotte Hornets in 2023, which was the same investigation that led to a lifetime ban for former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter. The NBA claims that it looked into the situation and cleared Rozier of any illegal activity.The FBI confirmed that Rozier was involved in the sports-betting scheme by providing inside information to manipulate prop bets between 2022 and 2024. Rozier's attorney released a statement denying Rozier's wrongdoing, claiming the FBI just wanted to arrest a big-name NBA player.The NBA announced that it placed Rozier on administrative leave.Additionally, the NBPA released a statement supporting Rozier."The integrity of the game is paramount to NBA players, but so is the presumption of innocence, and both are hindered when player popularity is misused to gain attention," the statement said, via Chris Mannix. "We will ensure our members are protected and afforded their due process rights through this process."According to Shams Charania, Rozier will not be paid while on his leave of absence. His paycheck will be withheld and placed in escrow, pending the outcome of the FBI investigation.A judge denied a request from prosecutors for a $10 million bond, instead requiring Rozier to put up his $6 million home for collateral and called for him to surrender his passport by Friday, Oct. 24.Rozier's lawyers released a statement to Front Office Sports and other publications reaffirming Rozier's innocence."Terry was cleared by the NBA and these prosecutors revived that non-case," Rozier's lawyer said on Oct. 24. "Terry is not a gambler, but he is not afraid of a fight."However, an NBA spokesperson later clarified Rozier had not been cleared by the league and that an investigation remains ongoing.On the NBA's investigation into Rozier from 2023, commissioner Adam Silver said the league found insufficient evidence, while the FBI investigation went deeper.On Tuesday, Oct. 28, ESPN reported that Rozier was facing an $8 million tax lien from the IRS during the time of his suspicious activity. The guard was put on leave without pay by the NBA, but this action itself is being challenged by the NBPA.Chauncey BillupsPortland Trail Blazers head coach and former NBA point guard Chauncey Billups was also arrested by the FBI in the organization's illegal betting probe. According to ABC News, Billups did not bet on games in which he played or coached, as he was instead arrested for his connection to an illegal poker game tied to the Mafia.According to the FBI, Billups was involved in poker games that sought to defraud participants by rigging the entire game, using former athletes like Billups to recruit players.Billups coached the Trail Blazers against the Minnesota Timberwolves in both teams’ season-opening game. The NBA placed him on administrative leave the following day, and he will reportedly not be paid while on leave.Damon JonesThe FBI arrested former NBA player Damon Jones as part of the illegal sports betting and gambling investigation. Jones spent 11 years in the NBA and later was an assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2015 to 2018.The FBI announced that Jones is involved in both the illegal sports betting scheme and the rigged poker games investigation.The Athletic reports that Jones used his relationship with LeBron James to find out information about injury in 2023, which he then used to tell co-conspirators to bet on the Milwaukee Bucks for a game before the Los Angeles Lakers released an injury report. Jones also reportedly did this with a different Lakers player in 2023-24.On Nov. 6, Jones appeared in court and entered a not guilty plea in both cases, before being released on a $200,000 bond.Malik BeasleyBeasley, who was part of the FBI's investigation earlier in the year, has not yet been arrested. Currently a free agent, Beasley spent last year with the Detroit Pistons while he was being investigated, but his attorneys said that he was cleared of any wrongdoing in August.Kevin GarnettInvestigative reporter Pablo Torre also reported that numerous former professional athletes participated in private poker games organized by those indicted by the Department of Justice. One player rumored to be involved is former Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Garnett. Torre reported that Garnett attended a game in 2019.Chauncey Billups poker scandalWhat did Chauncey Billups do?The FBI arrested 31 people involved in rigging illegal poker games, including Chauncey Billups and Damon Jones. The scheme targeted victims by giving them the chance to play in poker games alongside former professional athletes, such as Billups and Jones, both of whom carry name recognition.Chauncey Billups mafia connectionThe FBI said the Mafia is who ran the rigged illegal poker games, which took place in the Hamptons, Miami, Las Vegas, and Manhattan.Terry Rozier-Damon Jones gambling scandalWhat did Terry Rozier and Damon Jones do?The illegal sports betting scandal involving both Terry Rozier and Damon Jones includes six total defendants and involved using insider information to exploit NBA prop bets.The FBI claims that Rozier told defendants that he would leave a game early on March 23, 2023, allowing the defendants to bet over $200,000 on his player-prop unders. Rozier did, in fact, leave that game after nine minutes, allowing the defendants to win their bets.