NBA begins policy review after Rozier, Billups gambling-related arrests

The NBAin reaction to the arrest of the Miami guard Terry Rozier and Portland coach Chauncey Billups last week for their alleged roles in gambling schemes, began a review of how the league can protect not only the integrity of the game, but also its players and coaches.

The league made the disclosure in a memo sent to all 30 teams, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press.

“Given the spread of legal betting “For the majority of American states, the recurring issue of integrity in sports and the emergence of new formats and markets for betting, this is an opportune time to carefully review how sports betting should be regulated and how sports leagues can best protect themselves, their players and their fans,” the memo, sent by the NBA’s legal department, said.

Several indictments were unsealed last week, and federal officials arrested nearly three dozen people — most notably Billups and Rozier.

Rozier was arrested because federal officials allege he conspired with associates to help obtain bets based on his statistical performance in a game he played with Charlotte on March 23, 2023. The charges are similar to those former Toronto player Jontay Porter faced before he was banned from the league in 2020 by commissioner Adam Silver.

Sportsbooks discovered unusual betting patterns on the Charlotte game in question — bets involving Rozier were flagged and immediately brought to the NBA’s attention — and the league looked into the matter, but did not find enough evidence to conclude Rozier broke any rules.

“While the unusual betting on Terry Rozier’s ‘anders’ in the March 2023 game was discovered in real time because the bets were placed legally, we believe more can be done from a legal/regulatory perspective to protect the integrity of the NBA and our affiliate leagues,” the league told its teams. “In particular, proposition bets on the performance of individual players involve heightened integrity concerns and require additional scrutiny.”

Among the things the league will pay attention to: injury reports. The league releases an injury report every hour, and teams are required to disclose player statuses at certain time intervals before the next game. The NBA added an injury report a few years ago in the interest of transparency.

Bettors can use injury statuses to decide which bets to place – and if gamblers get that information before the rest of the public, it amounts to insider trading. Former NBA player Damon Jones is now facing charges after officials say he tipped off bookmakers about the medical conditions of two Los Angeles Lakers players. Details in that indictment make it clear that Jones discussed availability LeBron James and former Lakers center Anthony Davis with bookmakers before their status for certain games was known to the public. There is no indication that James or Davis had any knowledge of what Jones was allegedly doing.

There have been other examples of such tipping with other clubs, federal officials said.

“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 on their careers and livelihoods; that our injury disclosure rules are adequate; and that players are protected from harassment and harassment.”

The league also said it is seeking input from teams if they have any ideas on how best to proceed.

Associated Press reports.

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