By Harshit | November 5, 2025 | New York | 10:30 AM EDT
NEW YORK — The NBA has announced an internal review of its policies on sports betting and player protection following the arrests of Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups for alleged involvement in gambling schemes.
The league disclosed its plans in a memo sent to all 30 teams, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press. The memo emphasized the need to safeguard both the integrity of games and the welfare of players and coaches amid the rapid expansion of legal betting across the United States.
“Given the spread of legal betting to the majority of U.S. states, the recurrence of integrity issues across sports, and the emergence of novel betting formats and markets, this is an opportune time to carefully reassess how sports betting should be regulated and how sports leagues can best protect themselves, their players, and their fans,” the memo read.
Congressional Interest
The scandal has drawn the attention of lawmakers in Washington. Senate Republicans and Democrats have requested detailed information from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver regarding the league’s handling of the Rozier case, particularly his actions during a March 23, 2023 game when he was with the Charlotte Hornets.
Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. Maria Cantwell wrote that Congress needs to understand “why Rozier was cleared to continue playing basketball” despite the unusual betting patterns on his performance in that game. They also expressed concern that unresolved gambling scandals could lead the public to question the integrity of all professional sports. Silver has been asked to respond by November 10.
Details of the Alleged Schemes
Rozier was arrested for allegedly conspiring with associates to manipulate bets based on his statistical performance during the 2023 Hornets game. The charges mirror those previously faced by former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter, who was banned by the NBA in 2024.
The NBA had detected unusual prop bets on Rozier’s performance during the game and launched an investigation. While the league did not find enough evidence to punish Rozier at the time, officials now acknowledge that more stringent oversight may be necessary, particularly for individual player bets.
League Response and Policy Review
The NBA memo highlighted several areas for review, including:
- Injury reporting practices: The league’s hourly injury reports can influence betting, and early access by gamblers can create a form of insider trading. Recent federal indictments, including that of former player Damon Jones, demonstrated the risks of leaking injury information to bettors.
- Player and coach education: Ensuring all personnel understand the career risks associated with gambling.
- Policy enhancements: Seeking input from teams on ways to strengthen transparency and prevent misconduct.
The league’s initiative follows similar actions by other major sports organizations, including the NFL, which reminded players of its gambling policies, and MLB, which is investigating two of its players. Commissioner Silver has repeatedly advocated for a federal framework for sports betting to replace the current state-by-state system.
Next Steps
The NBA plans to evaluate current policies, review potential regulatory gaps, and implement safeguards to protect both the integrity of its games and its personnel. The league’s legal department emphasized that proposition bets on individual player performance pose particularly high integrity risks and will require heightened scrutiny moving forward.
The investigation and policy review underscore the growing challenges leagues face as legal sports betting becomes increasingly widespread, and the NBA is signaling that protecting both the game and its participants will remain a top priority.