Congress Demands Briefing from NBA Commissioner Silver on Gambling Scandals

The lawmakers, all members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, sent a letter following the recent arrests of Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, along with former player and coach Damon Jones, in two large-scale federal investigations.

Congressional Inquiry Focuses on Integrity

The Committee, which oversees consumer protection and sports, is demanding specific details from Silver regarding the recent arrests and the integrity of the league’s operational systems. The inquiry is prompted by federal probes into illegal sports wagering using insider injury data and separate charges involving high-stakes, rigged poker games linked to organized crime.

In the letter, the members requested Silver provide a comprehensive overview of several key issues:

• Non-Public Information: Actions the league has taken to “limit the disclosure of nonpublic information for unlawful purposes.” This directly addresses the insider betting scheme involving Rozier, who allegedly leaked injury data.
• Code of Conduct Efficacy: An assessment of whether the NBA’s current code of conduct is effective in prohibiting such activities by players and coaches.
• Regulatory Loopholes: An explanation of any existing regulatory gaps that enable fraudulent betting activities.
• Betting Partnerships: Whether the league is “re-evaluating the terms of its partnerships with betting companies,” including official sponsors DraftKings and FanDuel.

Precedent and Scope of Misconduct

The committee noted that illegal gambling in the league is not a “new problem,” pointing to the 2007 federal case against former NBA referee Tim Donaghy. They also referenced the more recent investigation into former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter, who admitted to manipulating his on-court performance for bettors.

The current federal investigation involves over 30 arrests across 11 states, highlighting the wide scope of the issue. The charges against Rozier and Jones relate to schemes where confidential information, such as a player’s intention to skip a game due to injury, was used to win large wagers.

The charges against Billups are tied to a separate, high-stakes poker operation that allegedly defrauded victims of over $\$7$ million. The congressional move seeks immediate assurances on how the league protects the fairness of its games and manages its relationship with the rapidly expanding legal sports betting industry.