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The NFL have issued a warning to players in the league following the ongoing federal investigation into an alleged Mafia-led sports betting investigation involving the NBA.
Just two days into the new season, the NBA was plunged into chaos after the FBI launched a series of overnight arrests that saw Miami Heat star Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups detained.
Rozier is accused of participating in an illegal sports betting scheme using private insider NBA information. Billups is charged in a separate indictment alleging a wide-ranging scheme to rig underground poker games that were backed by Mafia families.
In light of the news, the NFL have since sent a statement to teams to reinforce their strict rules against gambling and remind them to adhere to the league's policies.
The statement read: 'This week, the U.S. Justice Department announced two federal indictments relating to illegal gambling conspiracies involving NBA players and coaches.
'These developments underscore the risks that all sports are facing in the current environment and serve as a reminder of the need to adhere strictly to the NFL Gambling Policy. The Gambling Policy is attached to this memo.
The NFL have issued a warning to players in the league following the ongoing federal investigation into an alleged Mafia-led sports betting investigation that has affected the NBA
Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups (left) and Miami Heat point guard Terry Rozier (right) were arrested on Thursday as part of the FBI sports gambling probe
'Players should be reminded that they are prohibited from participating in, or facilitating, any form of illegal gambling-whether on sports, casino games, or otherwise.
'Not only are NFL players expressly prohibited from placing any wager on NFL games, players, and/or activities, such as the Draft, such conduct will also likely subject players to criminal prosecution as various state laws ban insiders (like NFL players) from betting on their own sports'.
The statement continued by clearly outlining three rules that NFL players must adhere by. It read: 'NFL players must not: (1) Place any bet on NFL Football; (2) Throw or fix any NFL game or event, or otherwise manipulate or attempt to manipulate any play or other aspect of an NFL game; (3) Share confidential, non-public information regarding any NFL game, player, or event with any third-party.
'Players are also required to report a gambling debt of $10,000 or more and should be especially mindful that large gambling debts may make them vulnerable to bad actors seeking to exploit them.
'Players should report any instances in which a third party attempts to solicit or inquire about any non-public information about the player, his team and/or any matter that may affect the outcome of an NFL game'.
Though the NFL maintains a ban on players betting in relation to the league, it is allowed for players to legally put money down on any other sports.
Back in 2023, a report by NBC Sports - which carried comments from a league source - claimed that one player had lost $8million from gambling during 2022.
Meanwhile, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley was suspended by the NFL for the 2022 season for betting on league games during his sabbatical from football.
The full statement which was sent to teams in the league amid the gambling controversy
FBI Director Kash Patel announced the indictments in a press conference on Thursday
Billups, pictured with his wife Piper Riley, is in his fifth year of coaching Portland
On Thursday, FBI Director Kash Patel announced two separate cases involving 'a wide sweeping criminal enterprise' that involved a number of NBA stars.
Among those tied to this criminal activity are Miami Heat guard Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Billups and former Cleveland Cavaliers player Damon Jones.
In one case, 31 defendants were named in a series of allegedly rigged poker games. The other case claims that NBA figures used insider information to manipulate the sports betting market.
Defendants in the cases have been charged with wire fraud, money laundering, extortion, robbery and illegal gambling. Lawyers who separately represent both Rozier and Billups have denied the allegations.
In Thursday's press conference, United States Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. outlined the breathtaking methods used by the group to rig games.
It is alleged that New York's notorious crime families would use X-ray tables to tilt games in their favor and wear special high-tech contact lenses to read pre-marked cards.
