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The NBA has been rocked by one of the biggest scandals in recent memory. Federal agents have arrested more than 30 people linked to a large-scale illegal gambling ring involving NBA insiders, poker scams, and even ties to organized crime families. This shocking case reveals how deeply corruption can run in professional sports, with millions of dollars lost and careers now hanging by a thread.
Two Major Schemes: Betting and Rigged Poker Games
The investigation uncovered two major criminal operations. The first involved NBA insiders using private team information to place profitable bets on games. The second centered on poker games rigged with advanced technology to cheat unsuspecting players.
The FBI dubbed the sports betting part Operation Nothing But Net and the poker case Operation Royal Flush. Both ran for years, pulling in millions before being exposed.
NBA Insider Betting Network
From December 2022 to March 2024, insiders within the NBA allegedly used confidential information like player injuries and game strategies to place massive bets on prop wagers. These bets focused on small details, such as a player’s total points or rebounds.
For example, if someone knew a star player was injured but not yet announced, they would bet on that player scoring fewer points. Some single bets reached as high as $200,000. This wasn’t luck it was a system built on stolen secrets.
Medical records, locker room discussions, and private memos were all reportedly leaked to fuel this operation. The result was a huge blow to the credibility of fair play in basketball.
Rigged Poker Operations Across the Country
The poker side of the scam was just as shocking. Games that looked friendly and fair were actually controlled by a group using high-tech gadgets to cheat players. Between 2019 and 2024, poker games were run in multiple states using smart lenses, tampered shuffling machines, and even tables with hidden cameras and sensors.
Players thought they were losing to skill but in truth, every card was being tracked. One player lost nearly $2 million in a single series of games. The total losses are estimated at over $7 million.
The Financial Impact
Between the betting and poker scams, millions were stolen or laundered through banks and cryptocurrency accounts. The operation spread across 11 states, involving athletes, coaches, and known criminal groups. The exact figure is still under review, but federal officials call it one of the biggest gambling crimes tied to U.S. sports in recent years.
Key NBA Figures Named
Three well-known NBA names have been directly connected to the scandal:
- Chauncey Billups, head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers
- Terrence Ross, guard for the Miami Heat
- Damon Jones, retired player and former coach
Each has been arrested and faces serious charges related to insider betting and information leaks. All have denied wrongdoing, but investigators say evidence including messages and call logs points to their involvement.
Mob Links Behind the Operation
The investigation also found connections to several organized crime families, including the Bonanno, Gambino, and Genovese groups. These syndicates reportedly managed the poker games, handled illegal bets, and laundered profits.
This link between sports professionals and the underworld has left fans stunned and worried about the growing influence of crime in modern sports betting.
FBI Findings and Evidence
Federal agents have seized several devices used for cheating, including modified shuffling machines, marked decks, and tables equipped with scanners and X-ray sensors. They also obtained chat logs and payment records linking insiders to organized crime figures.
The evidence paints a clear picture of long-term planning, advanced technology, and widespread involvement across multiple states.
League and Legal Reactions
The NBA has suspended the involved players and coaches while conducting its own investigation alongside federal authorities. The league has also announced plans to strengthen its monitoring of player and staff betting activity.
Lawyers for Billups and Ross have claimed their clients are innocent and will fight the charges. However, with more than 30 people already arrested, authorities expect more cooperation and possible plea deals in the coming months.
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