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Websites are now taking bets on which NBA player will be the next accused of illegal gambling after FBI announcement Dozens of players, coaches and mobsters arrested in connection with the spread Federal investigation into illegal game rigging,
plans that have been going on for years defrauded victims of millions of dollars 31 arrests were made including Miami Heat star Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups. “This is a saga of insider trading for the NBA,” FBI Director Kash Patel said at a news conference Thursday.
On which speculators are now betting basketball star Next time you will get caught in the scam.
on a prop bet BetOnline – “Next Hall of Fame player arrested on illegal gambling charges” – People are shown placing bets on 19 superstars, including Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Larry Bird and Dennis Rodman. None of these individuals have been formally accused of wrongdoing in connection with the scandal.
As of Friday, Magic Johnson, Dennis Rodman and Dirk Nowitzki appear to be the underdogs, while Kevin Garnett is the favorite to be the next Hall-of-Famer inducted. No one listed by the site has been accused of any wrongdoing. The site stipulates that the arrest must occur before the end of the 2025–26 regular season.
Another bet on the site has gamblers placing bets on who they believe will be the next player or coach arrested for illegal gambling. Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler and Julius Randle were among the 30 names listed — yet, no one has been accused of wrongdoing. The last date to place bets is November 20th.
Other stakes are directly related to the FBI investigation, with one asking between Billups and Rozier, “who will get a longer sentence.” He has not filed the petition yet.
In the wake of Thursday’s announcement, the N.B.A. announced Both Billups and Rozier “are being placed on immediate leave from their teams, and we will continue to cooperate with the appropriate authorities.” “We take these allegations extremely seriously and the integrity of our game remains our top priority,” the statement said.
The Justice Department unveiled two separate indictments uncovering two criminal schemes.
One charged Billups and 30 others, including members of the Bonanno, Gambino and Genovese organized crime families, with crimes related to rigging poker games across the country; The second charged Rozier and five others with crimes related to using NBA insider information to profit from illegal betting.
Some people were charged in both indictments, including former Cleveland Cavaliers player and assistant coach Damon Jones.
In the indictment charging Rozier, prosecutors cite a March 2023 game when he played for the Charlotte Hornets, claiming he told another defendant, De’Niro Laster, that he planned to “prematurely remove himself from the game” due to “an alleged injury.” The indictment says Laster then sold that tip to others, allowing them to place fraudulent bets based on non-public information.
That game, Rozier only played a little over nine minutes but still managed to score five points, make four rebounds and dish out two assists. He then left the game after he reportedly said that he would stun better online performers due to an alleged foot injury.
The NBA said it investigated and found he did not violate any league rules.
“In March 2023, the NBA was alerted to unusual betting activity related to Terry Rozier’s performance in a game between Charlotte and New Orleans,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said earlier this year, adding that the NBA was “aware” of the federal investigation.
Rozier’s attorney, James Trusty, said that prosecutors “are relying on spectacularly unreliable sources rather than relying on actual evidence of wrongdoing. Terry was acquitted by the NBA and these prosecutors resurrected that non-case.”
Billups’ attorney Chris Haywood said, “To believe that Chauncey Billups did what the federal government is accusing him of is to believe that he would jeopardize his Hall-of-Fame legacy, his reputation and his freedom.” espn In a statement. “He wouldn’t risk those things for anything, let alone a game of cards.” He added: “Furthermore, Chauncey Billups has never gambled on a basketball game, provided inside information, or abandoned the trust of his team and the league because it would tarnish the game to which he has devoted his entire life.”