NBA Gambling Scandal Uncovered: Players, Coaches, and Mafia Ties Rock the League

On October 23, 2025, the NBA was rocked by a historic federal takedown revealing a sprawling gambling scandal involving 34 defendants, including prominent players, coaches, and mafia affiliates.

Dubbed Operation Nothing But Bet, this multi-year investigation exposed an illegal sports betting and rigged poker ring spanning 11 states, orchestrated by organized crime families alongside NBA insiders.

Among those arrested were Miami Heat guard Terry Rosier, Portland Trailblazers head coach and Hall of Famer Chanty Bilips, and former player and assistant coach Damon Jones.

Rosier was apprehended during a season opener in Orlando, charged with wire fraud and money laundering for allegedly providing non-public information about games and player performances to gamblers.

Prosecutors allege Rosier faked injuries and exited games early to manipulate prop bets, generating hundreds of thousands in illicit wagers.

Bilips, arrested at his Oregon home, was implicated not in the betting scheme itself but as a “face card” in the mafia-backed rigged poker operation.

His celebrity status was used to attract wealthy victims to underground poker games in New York, Miami, Las Vegas, and the Hamptons, where sophisticated cheating devices like modified shuffling machines, X-ray tables, and special contact lenses ensured the house always won.

Damon Jones was uniquely tied to both schemes, leveraging insider NBA knowledge and serving as a celebrity lure in the rigged poker games.

Federal prosecutors revealed that the poker operation was backed by four notorious New York mafia families—the Bonano, Gambino, Genevese, and Lucesi—who provided protection, enforced debts through threats and violence, and took a substantial cut of the illicit profits.

This unprecedented collaboration among mafia factions highlights the staggering scale and sophistication of the criminal enterprise.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed deep concern, stating the allegations are “deeply disturbing” and emphasizing the league’s commitment to cooperating with authorities and preserving the game’s integrity.

Both Rosier and Bilips were immediately placed on leave, with interim coaching appointments and ongoing investigations signaling a league in crisis.

The scandal has ignited fierce debate within the basketball community.

On TNT’s Inside the NBA, Hall of Famers Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley condemned the actions as “stupid” and “unforgivable,” while co-host Kenny Smith urged empathy, highlighting gambling addiction’s complex role in driving irrational decisions.

The divide reflects broader tensions over accountability, addiction, and the NBA’s embrace of legalized sports betting.

This latest scandal echoes previous NBA controversies, such as Jonte Porter’s 2024 lifetime ban for prop bet manipulation and Tim Donnagy’s referee bribery case from the mid-2000s.

However, the current investigation dwarfs past incidents in scope, involving active players, coaches, and organized crime, and exposing vulnerabilities in the NBA’s monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.

The FBI’s findings detailed how insider information about player injuries, rest days, and game strategies was sold to gamblers who placed large prop bets with near certainty of winning.

These insider tips effectively amounted to sports betting insider trading, undermining the credibility of the league and the fairness of competition.

Moreover, the rigged poker games employed cutting-edge technology to cheat wealthy participants systematically.

Modified shuffling machines read entire decks, poker chip trays with hidden cameras, and X-ray tables allowed conspirators to see opponents’ cards.

Special contact lenses revealed invisible markings on cards, ensuring the conspirators maintained an unbeatable edge.

Victims lost millions, and when debts went unpaid, mafia enforcers resorted to intimidation, extortion, and even armed robbery.

The scandal’s fallout has extended beyond the courts and locker rooms.

Congressional leaders, including Senator Richard Blumenthal and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have called for federal safeguards on sports betting to prevent similar corruption in the future.

The NBA faces mounting pressure to tighten injury reporting protocols, enhance monitoring of betting patterns, and reconsider its lucrative partnerships with gambling companies like DraftKings and FanDuel.

Social media erupted with shock and skepticism, with fans questioning the legitimacy of games and the integrity of the league.

Memes and heated discussions about the mafia’s involvement and the NBA’s gambling ties have dominated platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit.

Notably, NBA legend Kevin Garnett was reported to have attended a private high-stakes poker game linked to the investigation, though he is not under suspicion and is considered a potential victim rather than a participant.

His involvement underscores the scandal’s wide-reaching impact, touching even revered figures.

As the investigation continues, federal authorities warn that more indictments may be forthcoming.

The NBA’s credibility hangs in the balance as it grapples with the challenge of balancing its growing gambling revenues against the imperative to protect the sport’s integrity.

This scandal is a stark reminder that the rapid expansion of legalized sports betting, while lucrative, carries inherent risks that demand vigilant oversight, comprehensive reforms, and a commitment to safeguarding the players, fans, and the game itself.