Federal Prosecutors Investigating More NBA Games in Ongoing Sports Betting Probe

Lawyers for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York indicated in court last week that they are reviewing additional games that may have been manipulated as part of the insider information scheme, according to The Athletic.

In October, federal prosecutors charged six people, including Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones. Previously, in July 2024, former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter was charged, pleaded guilty, and is awaiting sentencing. The NBA permanently banned Porter from the league.

The October indictment named seven NBA games, but federal authorities now suggest that number may grow. During a recent court appearance tied to sentencing in the case, Assistant U.S. Attorney David Berman said the government’s work is far from finished.

“The government has ongoing investigations. And our understanding is the defendant has conducted himself in similar manners in other instances as well.”

Prosecutors have not disclosed how many additional games they are reviewing. They did not give further information on the possible involvement of more NBA players.

Rozier and Porter at the Center of Alleged Betting Scheme

Prosecutors allege that while Rozier was with the Charlotte Hornets, he tipped off a friend that he would exit early from a March 2023 game. According to the indictment, the friend then sold the information to bettors, who placed wagers on player prop markets tied to his points, rebounds, assists, and three-pointers.

Rozier and the other defendants charged in that case have pleaded not guilty.

Porter, meanwhile, pleaded guilty to removing himself early from two Raptors games during the 2023–24 season to influence betting outcomes. Authorities arrested four additional men for betting on his performances, three of whom have pleaded guilty.

One of those men, Timothy McCormack, was sentenced last week to two years in federal prison. He became the first person convicted in the NBA insider betting case. Prosecutors said McCormack personally placed bets on games involving both Porter and Rozier.

In a November legal filing, prosecutors said McCormack and other gamblers wagered thousands of dollars on games including the March 23, 2023, Hornets–Pelicans matchup, the Jan. 26, 2024, Clippers–Raptors game, and the March 20, 2024, Kings–Raptors game, “among others that the government continues to investigate.”

Malik Beasley Still Under Federal Investigation

The federal probe has also cast a long shadow over Malik Beasley, who remains under investigation for possible illegal sports gambling.

Beasley is currently a free agent. According to reports, he lost out on a potential $42 million contract with the Pistons, and no other team has offered him a contract since the investigation came to light.

“To my understanding, he’s still under federal investigation, but there’s been no recent direction on what terms they’re looking at him,” Beasley’s attorney Steve Haney told The Athletic. “At this point, Malik is stuck in this investigative purgatory and unable to continue his career despite the fact that he’s been under investigation for over a year.”

Broader Federal Crackdown Spans Multiple Sports

In October, federal prosecutors announced that they had arrested and charged 34 people following a years-long investigation into illegal betting activity. Authorities said the probe uncovered not only misconduct tied to NBA games, but also a rigged poker operation allegedly connected to organized crime in New York.

Portland Trail Blazers Head Coach Chauncey Billups was among those charged in connection with the poker scheme. Prosecutors alleged that the operation used well-known former athletes to lure victims. Billups has pleaded not guilty.

The federal investigation has also spilled into college basketball. Former NBA player Antonio Blakeney faces charges in the college basketball case. Meanwhile, prosecutors indicted Marves Fairley and Shane Hennen in both the NBA and college cases. All have pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors in Pennsylvania said the college basketball point-shaving ring recruited at least 39 players across 17 schools. It manipulated the outcomes in 29 Division I games.

Concerns over sports betting integrity go beyond basketball. Major League Baseball is facing its own high-profile integrity controversy involving Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz.

The pair face accusations in a federal indictment of exchanging insider information with bettors about their pitching performances. That prompted MLB to place them on administrative leave and schedule a trial for May.

There is no connection between the MLB matter and the NBA investigation. Still, regulators have cited the MLB investigation as another example of integrity risks tied to player-specific betting markets.

NBA Response and Growing Scrutiny of Prop Bets

As federal investigations have expanded, the NBA has emphasized its cooperation with law enforcement and regulators while reassessing betting-related safeguards.

“We continue to assist the relevant authorities in their investigation as well as work with federal and state regulators on appropriate limitations on the types of bets placed on NBA games,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said. “The integrity of our game remains our highest priority.”

The unfolding cases have also intensified policy debates around player prop bets, which regulators and leagues have increasingly flagged as vulnerable to manipulation.

Several states have already restricted or banned certain college prop wagers. Meanwhile, lawmakers in others — including New York and Massachusetts — have introduced legislation that would further limit or prohibit specific prop markets tied to individual athlete performance.

Before the start of the season, the NBA asked sportsbooks to discontinue offering specific prop bets. That includes turnovers, personal fouls, and missed free throws. The league also asked for the removal of props on players who are on two-way (G League) or 10-day contracts. The NBA does not control sportsbook betting offerings, which are regulated at the state level. It can issue guidance and request the removal of certain markets.