Investigative journalist Pablo Torre claims that several professional athletes, including former NBA player Kevin Garnett, participated in private poker sessions last week that were arranged by the FBI.
34 people were arrested by the FBI this week for allegedly participating in rigged poker games using equipment such as X-ray poker tables that could read cards, rigged shuffle devices, and glasses that could read marked cards.According to FBI Director Kash Patel, the years-long investigation into the illicit conduct involved fraud of tens of millions of dollars.
Celebrities from the NBA, such as Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, are said to have been utilized to entice players who like the prospect of playing cards with famous athletes.The attorneys for Billups have refuted any misconduct on the part of their client.
Members of Italian-American criminal families were also participating in the rigged poker games, according to the FBI indictment, and they were relied upon to enforce debt payments.
Former NBA player Damon Jones was named in FBI indictments, but Garnett was not.
According to Torre's research, Ty Lue, the head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, allegedly participated in a rigged poker game in Las Vegas in 2019. Lue wasn't playing at the same table as Billups, according to Torre's sources. There were no indictments that mentioned Lue.
According to Torre, Hall of Fame tight end Antonio Gates allegedly participated in a rigged Miami poker game.
In a statement, Gates' representative refuted the reports and emphasized that he has not been charged with any crimes.
According to federal authorities, such manipulated poker games started in 2019.
Terry Rozier, a current Miami Heat player who was detained by the FBI last week on suspicion of being involved in a sports betting scandal, is the subject of the second section of the FBI indictment. Authorities claim that in March 2023, while he was a player for the Charlotte Hornets, Rozier disclosed that he intended to withdraw from a Hornets game on March 23.
The FBI claims that Rozier then deliberately took himself out of the game barely ten minutes in order to allow bettors to profit from $260K in prop bets.
According to the federal indictment, Rozier allegedly gave such information to a co-defendant, who subsequently sold it to gamblers.
Legal sportsbooks stopped Rozier prop betting after noticing the odd activity that evening. The defendants allegedly calculated the winnings from betting on the game at Rozier's Philadelphia residence a week after it took place.
ESPN reports that neither Rozier nor Billups will receive compensation while they are on NBA leave.
Rozier is currently in the final year of a four-year contract that will pay him US$26.6 million this season. The funds will be kept in escrow. He will receive full reimbursement if he is cleared and permitted to rejoin the Heat. Rozier averaged 25.9 minutes per night, 10.6 points per game, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists during his last season with the Heat.
According to ESPN, Billups will forfeit his $7 million salary as the Trail Blazers' coach until the FBI probe is resolved.
Additionally, according to ESPN, Rozier was subject to a $8 million tax debt from the IRS at the time of the questionable betting activity.
“Because bets were placed through legalized betting companies, they picked up aberrational behaviour around a particular game in March 2023,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said to NBA TV last week. “That was brought to our attention by the regulators and the betting companies. We then looked into that situation … very transparent about it.”
Although there was "aberrational betting," according to Silver, the league was unable to discover any real misconduct, and Rozier assisted with their inquiry at the time.
According to a statement from Rozier's attorney, his client is not a gambler.
“We ultimately concluded there was insufficient evidence despite that aberrational information. We then worked directly with law enforcement,” Silver said, adding that the federal government has subpoena power and can threaten jail time, which are things the league cannot do.
"We’ve been working with them since then,” Silver said, adding that while Rozier hasn’t been convicted of any crimes, “obviously, it doesn’t look good.”
The FBI is still looking into this.
In a separate case, former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter faces a possible term of 20 years in prison when he is sentenced in December. Porter pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy charges last year and has already been banned by the NBA for betting on games he participated in.
Having reviews for everything is beneficial. Even negative reviews can benefit your business because they tell you about the player experience. A well-written review will be succinct and provide enough information to prospective players to avoid forcing them to draw incorrect conclusions about the encounter. It should be as error-free as possible and offer comments and recommendations without disparaging the company in order to ensure that it is professional.
T&Cs Apply 18+, Terms and Conditions Apply
New players only. Amont of bonus : 100 Freespins. Min deposit to use freespins : 50 USD. Provider : Gamino. Game : Big Bass Splash (Pragmatic Play). Wager : Wager Free.
New depositing players. Min deposit £10. 18+. Wagering requirements apply 35x. 100 spins includes 3 deposit. See full terms here.
Terms and Conditions apply. New players only. 18+. Min deposit £20. 40x wagering applies to match up bonus. Offer valid for 1 week. 50 Spins on Starburst. 40x wagering appliest to Spins. See full terms here.
New players only | No restrictions while playing with cash | Min. refund bonus is £10 | Wagering on bonus is 60x | Bonus based on 1st deposit lost | Max bet with bonus is £5 | Skrill and Neteller excluded |
20 Free Spins bonus is awarded on the first deposit (after registration as a new player) of minimum €/£/$10. Only one bonus per player is available. The winnings generated from the bonus will be credited to the player's real money account up to the maximum conversion Amount of €/£/$500. If within 48 hours from crediting the bonus to player's account, player did not use the bonus, the bonus will expire and player shall not be able to receive the expired bonus. Withdrawal request voids any active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill deposits.Full Terms apply.
