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Following the arrests of Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat player Terry Rozier as part of an ongoing illegal gambling scandal, the NBA has finally seen enough.
News of Billups’ and Rozier’s arrests shook the NBA world last week, coming shortly after similar incidents involving former NBA players Malik Beasley and Jontay Porter.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst then alleged that the NBA was aware of Rozier’s involvement in the scandal, but brushed it aside by having the Heat place him on the injured list to finish the season. He later walked back those comments.
NBA Sends Memo To Teams Regarding Growing Gambling Crisis
The arrests of Billups and Rozier, as well as former NBA player Damon Jones, represent a worrisome trend for the NBA as more and more players find themselves tied to illegal gambling, often involving league games.
On Monday, the league sent a memo to teams announcing plans to crackdown on suspicious gambling activity, and explaining exactly how it plans to do so.
The NBA’s memo to teams on Monday, obtained by ESPN: https://t.co/jYSrpKV9GK pic.twitter.com/NpP5FEcIJL
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 27, 2025
“Given the spread of legal betting to the majority of U.S. states, the recurrence of integrity issues across sports, and the emergence of novel betting formats and markets, this is an opportune time to carefully reassess how sports betting should be regulated and how sports leagues can best protect
One way that the league said it intends to crack down is by more fervently monitoring injury reports in the days leading up to and day of games.
“We have also begun a process of reviewing league policies regarding injury reporting, the training and education of all NBA personnel, and safety measures for NBA players,” the memo continued. “With sports betting now occupying such a significant part of the current sports landscape, every effort must be made to ensure that players, coaches and other NBA personnel are fully aware of the dire risks that gambling can impose upon their careers and livelihoods; that our injury disclosure rules are appropriate; and that players are protected from harassment from bettors.”
Additionally, the league announced plans to explore the use of AI and additional tools to better monitor betting behavior.
Ultimately, it’s a necessary step. But one former mob boss familiar with the group’s gambling operations says it’s futile.
“They will never go away. Gambling will always be a major business of Cosa Nostra,’ Michael Franzese said of the rise of illegal gambling in sports. “It’s just how it is. “It is very attractive, it’s very lucrative. Guys love to gamble, and they love to make money while gambling.”