The National Basketball Association (NBA) has launched a wide-ranging review of its betting and integrity policies after the arrests of Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups in federal gambling investigations.
A confidential memo sent to all 30 teams — obtained by ESPN and the Associated Press — outlines plans to reassess the league’s injury reporting, betting oversight, and player protection measures. The move follows growing federal scrutiny of gambling activity in professional sports.
League Seeks Stronger Oversight Amid Integrity Concerns
The NBA said the rapid expansion of legalized sports betting across the U.S. has created new integrity risks.
“Given the spread of legal betting to the majority of US states, the recurrence of integrity issues across sports, and the emergence of novel betting formats, this is an opportune time to reassess how sports betting should be regulated and how sports leagues can best protect themselves, their players, and their fans,” the memo stated.
Commissioner Adam Silver called the scandal “very upsetting,” adding, “There’s nothing more important to the league and its fans than the integrity of the competition.”
Player Arrests Deepen League’s Investigation
Rozier was charged with leaking inside information during a March 2023 game while with the Charlotte Hornets. Prosecutors allege he told a friend he would exit early with a foot injury, and that data was sold to bettors for roughly $100,000. Sportsbooks flagged suspicious betting on Rozier’s “unders,” and he left the game after nine minutes.
Although a prior NBA inquiry found no proof of misconduct, the memo acknowledged the need for tighter safeguards: “While the unusual betting on Terry Rozier’s ‘unders’ in the March 2023 game was detected in real time because the bets were placed legally, we believe there is more that can be done from a legal/regulatory perspective to protect the integrity of the NBA.”
The memo added that “proposition bets on individual player performance involve heightened integrity concerns and require additional scrutiny.”
Billups was arrested separately for allegedly participating in rigged poker games tied to organized crime. He and Rozier were among 34 people charged, including former Cavaliers assistant Damon Jones, accused of leaking injury details about LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Authorities say neither player was aware of the leaks.
League Reviewing Injury Policies and Player Safety
The NBA will reexamine its injury disclosure rules and gambling education programs. “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,” the memo stated.
The league said it will consult with the players’ union and team officials on additional safeguards.
Using AI to Bolster Integrity Monitoring
The memo also revealed plans to expand AI-driven integrity monitoring, analyzing betting data from sportsbooks and social media to detect suspicious patterns.
Following the 2024 lifetime ban of Jontay Porter for leaking inside information, the initiative represents the NBA’s most aggressive step yet to preserve competitive fairness.
As the memo concluded, “The NBA’s reputation and competitive fairness depend on maintaining absolute transparency and vigilance in an era where betting is part of the sports ecosystem.”
Source:
“NBA reviewing policies to fight ‘dire risks’ of gambling: report”, sports.yahoo.com. Oct 27, 2025
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