Arrests Made

34 people – including Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier – were arrested Thursday as part of federal investigations into illegal gambling operations.

Context

Legal sports betting became widespread across the United States in 2018 after federal restrictions were lifted. Since then, 38 states and Washington, DC, have legalized some form of sports gambling. While professional leagues like the NBA have partnered with gambling companies, they have also expressed concern about the risks posed by widespread betting on games and individual player performances.

The Arrests

Federal authorities arrested 34 people Thursday in connection with two separate gambling schemes. Billups was charged with participating in rigged poker games allegedly backed by organized crime families, while Rozier was accused of sharing insider information with bettors.