Early Thursday morning, the NBA and sports world were shocked by news of gambling-related FBI arrests coming down on two prominent figures.
Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was taken in due to alleged connections to an illegal poker ring, but perhaps more damning to the industry was the arrest of Heat guard Terry Rozier, who is facing allegations related to illegal sports betting.
In light of these arrests, here is a timeline of sports betting scandals over the past few years:
November 2019: Josh Shaw suspended by NFL
The Arizona Cardinals' corner became the first active player to be disciplined for betting, as it was discovered that he wagered against his own team at a legal sportsbook in Las Vegas.
October 2021: MLS's Felipe Hernandez suspended for betting on league games
Felipe Hernandez engaged in illegal sports betting while a member of Sporting Kansas City, gambling on MLS games as well as other sports. He turned himself in to his team out of personal safety concerns due to the debts at illegal books that he had racked up.
March 2022: NFL suspends Calvin Ridley for a year
An NFL investigation found that the star receiver had gambled on games during a stint on the non-football injury list, reportedly including a parlay in which he bet on his Atlanta Falcons to win. Ridley was suspended for the entirety of the 2022 season.
December 2022: Jets' WR coach Miles Austin suspended
The coach was suspended after the league found out that he was betting on sports, though not any NFL or college football games. Still, Austin violated the NFL's personnel gambling policy by wagering on any game in the first place.
April 2023: Five NFL players suspended for gambling
Four Detroit Lions — Jameson Williams, Quintez Cephus, C.J. Moore, and Stanley Berryhill — and Washington Commanders defensive end Shaka Toney received lengthy suspensions for sports betting, some of which occurred at the Lions' practice facility. Cephus, Moore, and Toney were suspended indefinitely for betting on NFL games, while Williams and Berryhill received just six games since they did not bet on the NFL.
May 2023: Alabama baseball head coach fired due to a link to betting
Head coach Brad Bohannon had allegedly communicated with Indiana businessman Bert Neff before an Alabama-LSU game, resulting in Neff betting against Alabama. Gambling regulators were able to flag the bet and halt wagers. Six days later, Bohannon was shown the door.
May 2023: Iowa-Iowa State betting investigation launched
The two universities announced that a bevy of athletes across a wide range of sports, as well as an athletic department employee, were under investigation for violating NCAA gambling policies.
June 2023: NFL suspends four players for gambling violations
Isaiah Rodgers Jr., Rashod Berry, and Demetrius Taylor were found to have placed bets on their own team during the 2022 season, while Nicholas Petit-Frere was suspended for other bets. The Colts' Rodgers and Berry, and the free agent Taylor were suspended for the entirety of the 2023 NFL season.
October 2023: NHL player Shane Pinto suspended for unusual betting activity
The Ottawa Senators' center was suspended 41 games for violating the league's sports wagering policy. While the exact details remain unreported, Pinto was found to have a betting account in the U.S., which was flagged by an NHL integrity protection partner.
October 2023: Two golfers suspended for PGA Tour bets
Vince India and Jake Staiano of the Korn Ferry Tour were suspended for six months for placing bets on the more prestigious PGA Tour. Neither bet on their own tournaments, but the Korn Ferry Tour's status as a feeder tour to the PGA aroused suspicion.
January 2024: Kayshon Boutte arrested over illegal betting
Boutte, a former LSU receiver playing for the Patriots, was arrested for illegally circumventing the age requirement for betting while in college. He was only 20 years old when the betting allegedly occurred.
March 2024: Ippei Mizuhara fired by Dodgers over betting, theft
Shohei Ohtani's interpreter was found to have initiated large cash transfers from the superstar's bank account to a bookmaking service to cover gambling debts. Mizuhara was later sentenced to 57 months in federal prison.
April 2024: Jontay Porter receives lifetime ban from NBA
The Raptors' forward was found to have placed multiple prop bets involving himself, as well as feeding confidential information to other bettors, between January and March of that year.
June 2024: Tucupita Marcano banned for life from MLB, four others receive yearlong suspensions
Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano had placed bets on the Pirates when he was on the team the previous season, resulting in a lifetime ban. Athletics reliever Michael Kelly, Padres minor-league pitcher Jay Groome, Phillies minor-league infielder José Rodríguez, and Diamondbacks reliever Andrew Saalfrank were each suspended a year for other bets.
June 2024: MLB umpire Pat Hoberg disciplined
Hoberg, known as one of the most accurate umpires in the big leagues, was said to have violated the league's betting rules by sharing a betting account with someone else who had placed bets on MLB games. Hoberg has denied accusations that he personally placed bets, but he has yet to umpire a game since.
August 2024: Notre Dame men's swim team suspended for at least a year
Members of Notre Dame's men's swim team were found to have placed bets on the results of their competitions, resulting in the university suspending the program for at least one year. They reportedly did not bet on their competitors or other Notre Dame sports.
June 2025: Malik Beasley investigated by federal authorities
Beasley was placed under investigation by federal authorities based on allegations of gambling on NBA games and props while he was with the Bucks during the 2023-24 season. It was announced in August that Beasley was no longer the target of a federal betting probe, though he has yet to sign with an NBA team for the 2025-26 season.
October 2025: Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier Arrested Amid FBI Gambling Investigation
Billups, the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, was arrested as part of a major FBI investigation into illegal sports betting and gambling. The investigation, which also involves Miami Heat player Terry Rozier, comes as part of a broader federal effort to dismantle illegal gambling networks.
