Portland Trail Blazers Head Coach Chauncey Billups Arrested in Federal Gambling Probe
On October 23, 2025, Chauncey Billups, head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and NBA Hall of Famer, was arrested by the FBI in connection with a sweeping federal investigation into illegal gambling operations. The probe has implicated over 30 individuals, including Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former NBA player Damon Jones.
Allegations and Charges
Billups is accused of participating in a conspiracy to fix high-stakes poker games across cities such as Las Vegas, Miami, Manhattan, and the Hamptons. These games were allegedly backed by organized crime families, including the Bonanno, Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese families. The indictment claims that advanced cheating technologies, such as altered card-shuffling machines and marked cards, were employed to defraud participants of millions of dollars.
In a separate but related case, Rozier is charged with exploiting confidential NBA information to facilitate fraudulent sports bets. He allegedly provided non-public details about player performances and, in one instance, faked an injury during a March 2023 game to influence betting outcomes.
NBA’s Response
Following the arrests, the NBA placed both Billups and Rozier on immediate leave. The league emphasized its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the game and is cooperating fully with federal authorities. The Portland Trail Blazers have appointed assistant coach Tiago Splitter as interim head coach in Billups’ absence.
Background on Chauncey Billups
Billups, 49, enjoyed a distinguished playing career from 1997 to 2014, earning five All-Star selections and leading the Detroit Pistons to an NBA Championship in 2004, where he was named Finals MVP. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024. Billups has served as the head coach of the Trail Blazers since 2021.
Ongoing Investigation
Federal authorities describe these cases as among the most significant instances of sports corruption since the legalization of online sports betting in the U.S. The investigations are ongoing, with potential for further charges and arrests as more information becomes available.
