Are Chauncey Billups and Other Players Involved in the Gambling Scandal Expected to Get Jailtime?
Scott Morris | October 28, 2025
Players Involved in the Most Recent NBA Betting Scandal
The most recent NBA betting scandal, which broke in October 2025, centers on federal charges against individuals for illegal sports betting, money laundering, and rigged poker games. It involves ties to organized crime and led to arrests on October 23, 2025. The current and former NBA players charged in this case are:
- Terry Rozier: Current guard for the Miami Heat (formerly with the Charlotte Hornets). He faces charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. Career earnings: $160M+
- Damon Jones: Former NBA player (e.g., with the Cleveland Cavaliers) and assistant coach. He also faces charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. Career Earnings: $22M+
- Chauncey Billups: Head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and Hall of Famer. Charged in connection with an illegal poker operation linked to organized crime. Career Earnings: $106M+
This scandal builds on the 2024 case involving Jontay Porter (former Toronto Raptors center, who was banned from the NBA after pleading guilty to related betting violations), but the 2025 arrests focus on the above players. No other active or former NBA players were named in the recent indictments.
Likelihood of Jail Time and Potential Sentences
Key Charges and Maximum Penalties
All three face conspiracy to commit wire fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1349) and conspiracy to commit money laundering (18 U.S.C. § 1956(h)). These carry:
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- Maximum per charge: Up to 20 years in federal prison, plus fines up to $250,000–$1 million per count (depending on the statute).
- Combined potential: Up to 40 years if sentences run consecutively, though federal guidelines (U.S. Sentencing Commission) often recommend concurrent terms based on offense level, criminal history, and loss amount (here, schemes allegedly generated millions in illegal bets).
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Defendant
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Specific Allegations
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Potential Sentence Range (If Convicted)
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Chauncey Billups (Portland Trail Blazers coach)
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Sharing non-public injury info (e.g., on Damian Lillard) for insider bets; ties to rigged poker games with Mafia links.
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5–40 years (guideline base: 10–20 years for fraud/money laundering conspiracies involving $1M+ loss).
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Terry Rozier (Miami Heat guard)
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Exiting a March 2023 game early to hit “under” prop bets on his performance; facilitating bets via co-conspirators.
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5–40 years (similar to above; prior NBA probe cleared him of league violations but not federal ones).
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Damon Jones (former player/assistant coach)
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Leaking participation info on players like Anthony Davis for bets in Lakers games (Jan. 2024).
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5–40 years (focus on insider tipping; could be lower if portrayed as “passive” involvement).
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Realistic Expectations
- Likely jail time? Yes, for at least 2–10 years per person if they go to trial and lose, per similar past cases (e.g., ex-NBA ref Tim Donaghy got 15 months in 2008 for wire fraud in betting). However, 80%+ of federal cases end in pleas, often halving sentences.
- Mitigating factors: First-time offenders, public figures (could lead to stiffer penalties for deterrence), but NBA suspensions (Rozier and Billups are indefinitely sidelined) may count as cooperation.
- Timeline: Sentencing could take 6–18 months; expect updates post-arraignment (next week).
The NBA is also investigating internally, potentially leading to lifetime bans alongside any prison terms. For comparison, Jontay Porter (2024 scandal) got a lifetime ban but no jail time after pleading guilty to a related wire fraud conspiracy (sentenced to probation in December 2024). This case is broader and more severe due to Mafia ties.
