Terry Rozier Betting Scandal ‘Insider Trading Saga of NBA’
The arrests of NBA veteran Terry Rozier in conjunction with an alleged illegal betting scheme and NBA coach Chauncey Billups for his participation in an illegal poker game roiled the sports betting universe on Thursday.
"This is the insider trading saga of the NBA," FBI Director Kash Patel said during a press conference after the indictments were unsealed.
Rozier allegedly fixed the outcome of certain wagers in connection to noted sports bettors, the FBI said. Rozier, in his 10th NBA season, shared inside information about player injuries and roster moves before they occurred, the feds said.
Multiple wagers concerning Rozier’s play in a March 2023 game against the Pelicans form the core of the case.
Promo Code: BOOKIES
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US) Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR) 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
Sportsbooks Flagged Rozier Under Prop Bets
Sportsbooks in multiple states flagged a surprising surge of bets -- including 30 wagers in 46 minutes from a professional bettor totaling $13,759 -- on the under on Rozier's points, rebounds, and assists. That forced a halt on sportsbooks on plays considering Rozier. He would play just 10 minutes before leaving the game, citing a foot injury.
Rozier made more than $160 million his career but still managed to get himself involved in this scheme, the FBI charged.
More than $200,000 in bets were made and cashed on the Rozier NBA player props in the March 2023 game question, and the money was taken to Rozier’s house, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.
The NBA has partnered with multiple legal sportsbooks in terms of promotion, logo usage, data sharing, and integrity. This partnership offers the NBA the ability to learn about illegal betting activities in real time. But it also ties the NBA – whether rightly or not – to every betting scandal that breaks in the news.
“The sportsbooks are a victim in this case,” said U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Joseph Nocella.
21+. New customers in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, or WY (excludes NY). Apply promotion in bet slip and place a $1+ cash wager (min odds -500) daily for 10 consecutive days starting day of account creation. Wager must settle as a loss to earn FanCash equal to losing amount (max $200 FanCash/day). FanCash issued under this promotion expires at 11:59 p.m. ET 7 days from issuance. Terms, incl. FanCash terms, apply—see Fanatics Sportsbook app. Gambling Problem? Call or Text 1-800-GAMBLER, 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-888-532-3500 (VA).
NBA Continues Push For Limits On Prop Bets
Just this week, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver re-iterated his concern over the availability of certain prop wagers on both two-way players and those players whose participation won’t have a material outcome on the game’s final outcome.
"We've asked some of our partners to pull back some of the prop bets, especially when they're on two-way players, guys who don't have the same stake in the competition, where it's too easy to manipulate something, which seems otherwise small and inconsequential to the overall score," Silver told ESPN’s Pat McAfee. "We're trying to put in place -- learning as we go and working with the betting companies -- some additional control to prevent some of that manipulation."
Both DraftKings and FanDuel released statements Thursday.
"Today’s events are deeply disturbing, and should concern fans, athletes, and everyone who loves sports and values integrity and fair play. They also illustrate the stark contrast between legal and illegal betting markets. At FanDuel, we use advanced technology and real-time monitoring to identify suspicious activity and work closely with leagues, data monitoring groups, and law enforcement. We are unwavering in our commitment to rooting out abuses by those who seek to undermine fair competition and the games we love," a FanDuel spokesman said in a statement to to Bookies.com.
DraftKings shared similar sentiments.
“Game integrity and responsible play are priorities for everyone at DraftKings. We fundamentally believe that regulated online sports betting is the best way forward to monitor for and detect suspicious behavior while offering consumer protections backed by advanced technology, neither of which exist in the pervasive illegal market. While regulation cannot eliminate all concerns related to game integrity, it significantly reduces risks by enabling collaboration between operators, leagues, teams, and relevant authorities to identify and hold accountable anyone engaged in illegal behavior. We know our fans value the authenticity of competition, and we take the responsibility of reporting suspicious activity seriously. As a proud partner of the NBA, DraftKings remains committed to working closely with the league to ensure the continued integrity of the game,” a statement shared by a DraftKings spokesman to Bookies.com said.
NBA Had Investigated Case In 2023
The NBA and FBI met with Rozier after that 2023 game and the NBA said at that time no league rules were broken. But Rozier’s case reportedly came to light as a result of the Jontay Porter, who was banned from the NBA in 2024 for tanking his own player props. Porter pled guilty to conspiracy charges and will be sentenced in December.
The allegations surrounding Billups, a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, concern his alleged participation and payment for his participation in an illegal poker game that took place in Manhattan, Miami, Las Vegas, and the Hamptons, officials say. That game involved at least three New York Mafia members.
“Operation Royal Flush” found that the poker games were allegedly rigged using several methods by the New York Mafia families that operated the games. Investigators said that Billups and former NBA player Damon Jones were used as lures to offer the games legitimacy and to lure in unsuspecting players.
Promo Code: BOOKIES
Must be 21+ to participate (18+ in KY). Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, IL, IA, KY, KS, LA, MD, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA). Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ). Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). CALL 1-877-770-STOP (LA). Must be present in LA (select parishes). Licensee partner Amelia Belle Casino. Deposit required. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bets wager excluded from returns. New Customer only. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.
FanDuel Promo Code Scores $300 in Bonuses for Oregon Ducks vs. Indiana Hoosiers (Jan. 9) 
Fanatics Sportsbook Promo: Up to $2K in FanCash for College Football Playoff Peach Bowl Oregon-Indiana (Jan. 9) 
DraftKings Sportsbook Promo: Claim $300 in Bonuses for CFB Oregon-Indiana Peach Bowl (Jan. 9) 
bet365 Bonus Code BOOKIES: Get $200 Bonus for CFP Semifinal, NFL Wild Card Games (Jan. 9) 
BetMGM MI Casino Bonus Code BOOKIESMI2500: Score $2,500 Bonus + 100 Spins (Jan. 9) 
BetMGM PA Casino Bonus Code BOOKIES2500: Get $2,500 Bonus Bets + 100 Bonus Spins (Jan. 9)
Comments