Federal authorities revealed that Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, and former NBA player Damon Jones were among those arrested in relation to the investigation. The charges stem from a multi-year probe into fraudulent sports betting and rigged poker games, both allegedly orchestrated with the backing of notorious mafia families, including the Lucchese, Bonanno, Gambino, and Genovese syndicates.

According to Christopher Raia, assistant director of the FBI’s New York field office, three of the indicted individuals were allegedly involved in both the sports betting and poker fraud schemes.

Details of the Scheme

The investigation uncovered sophisticated methods used to manipulate high-stakes poker games, including chip tray analyzers and X-ray-enabled tables that can read face-down cards. These technological tools were reportedly deployed to deceive players and siphon hundreds of thousands of dollars from unsuspecting victims.

The sports betting aspect of the case allegedly involved NBA insiders who may have influenced game outcomes or shared privileged information. Rozier and Jones are believed to have played roles in the betting ring, while Billups is accused of helping lure victims into the poker scheme.

Arrests and Further Charges

The FBI, in coordination with Homeland Security and local law enforcement agencies, executed arrests across 11 states, marking one of the most significant gambling-related takedowns in recent years.

The Department of Justice emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing, with further charges possible as authorities continue to unravel the complex web of criminal activity. All three NBA-affiliated individuals have been placed on administrative leave pending further legal proceedings.

Sports Betting In The USA

As of 2025, domestic sports betting is permitted in 38 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, with 30 states authorizing online sportsbook operations. Despite varying state-level regulations, residents across all U.S. states can access legal online sports betting through offshore platforms that accept users who are of legal gambling age.

Several states with legalized gambling have taken enforcement actions against prominent offshore sportsbooks for targeting their residents. In recent years, multiple jurisdictions have issued cease-and-desist orders to these operators. However, many of these platforms have not complied, citing their operations outside U.S. borders and beyond the reach of state regulatory authority.

The post Over 30 Individuals Indicted in Federal Gambling Probe first appeared on Legal Gambling Sites.

In the state of Georgia, the state constitution only allows for a state run lottery. Other forms of gambling, namely horse racing and casino, are currently restricted by law. If State House Representative Ron Stephens and other house representatives have their way, these laws could soon be challenged and the state would be in line to reap significant financial benefits.

As Chairman of the House Economic Development and Tourism Committee, Stephens has introduced a constitutional amendment that would in fact change the language in order to permit horse race and casino gambling in certain locations within the state. It is noteworthy that this is not a new law that is being proposed, but instead an amendment.

The reason Stephens has chosen this path to bring the issue to the floor is because of the distinct possibility that Republican Governor Nathan Deal would veto any legislation related to expanding legal gambling throughout the state.

Reports are that Deal is opposed to any such expansion and a veto would seem imminent. By seeking a constitutional amendment, the governor would have little to no influence over the process. If an amendment were to pass, the decision would rest solely with voters at a two-thirds majority.

According to Stephens, revenues from any new forms of gaming would be directed for the benefit of programs such as HOPE Scholarship and Pre-K funding. Stephens further indicated that the state lottery commission could oversee as many as six new casinos, which could bring in an estimated $1.0 billion in annual revenues to the state’s kitty.

While it’s too late to vote on such an amendment in 2015, Stephens expects that between now and January of 2016, the legislature could engage in healthy debate and have the bill ready for a vote by that time.

Both sides of such an amendment are already at odds over any such action. Opponents are using the requisite argument about the assumption that gaming brings crime and financial devastation to the poor within the communities that have easy access to any forms of gaming.

Proponents counter by suggesting the casinos would be located in high traffic tourist locations where well-to-do visitors would provide much of the revenue. These proponents also offer the argument that as many as 10,000 construction jobs and another 10,000 permanent jobs would be created at a time when citizens need jobs.

A surprising opponent to any such amendment or legislation is the horse racing industry. It would seem they don’t want to be lumped in with casinos, fearing that such action exposes them failure as they try to secure their own legislation.

With 10 months remaining until the issue could be presented for a vote, it will be interesting to see how things shake out within the House. As is the case in many other states, gambling legislation is of keen interest to the citizens and the good folks of Georgia are sure to have their say.

The post Georgia Looking at Legalizing Casino and Horse Race Gambling first appeared on Legal Gambling Sites.

The measure would reverse the ridiculous law that is in place in the state that criminalise playing online poker. It is actually a felony to play online poker in Washington at this time. Washington is the only US state to have a law like this on the books. There are not even any US federal online gambling laws that impose this type of touch stance against online gambling in general.

Law enforcement in Washington has never arrested or prosecuted anyone for engaging in online poker, nor do they monitor Internet activity in the state in an attempt to catch players in the act. The law was really put in place to target illegal gambling operations within the state, not to stalk players who enjoy online poker.

The over generalized language in the existing law is however confusing and could cause individuals trouble if the state did ever want to go after players, which is not likely.

The bill would authorize and regulate state licensed online poker gambling in Washington and allow the state to launch legal gambling sites for their residents. It would provide the necessary regulatory infrastructure to oversee the industry, manage licensing fees and provide opportunities for Washington to partner with other states to share player pools for increased revenue.

The bill does not include a ‘bad actor’ clause like many other states have done. Bad actor rules used in other states eliminate poker sites such as PokerStars from being eligible for licensing due to their run in with the DOJ during the Black Friday online poker sting.

There are approximately 74 brick and mortar card rooms in Washington state at this time, so there are legally sanctioned state licensed land based poker gambling options for players. Despite the anti-online poker gambling laws in place in the state, offshore online poker gambling is popular among residents.

Should Washington embrace state run online poker, then they will have to compete with the offshore brands as well.

HB 1114 could end up in the review process for a significant amount of time, so the rate of progress will likely depend on how much Appleton and supporters of the bill push for attention to the matter.

This piece of legislation is also likely to catch the attention of anti-online gambling advocate Sheldon Adelson who is injecting himself into the discussion in any state considering an online gambling measure of some kind, and spending millions of dollars on a strategic and bold opposition. He has been credited with fanning the flames of the ongoing controversy among competing parties in California concerning online poker.

The post Washington State To Consider Legalizing Online Poker first appeared on Legal Gambling Sites.

The Supreme Court declined to hear the case, so New Jersey was still without any sportsbook operations for their licensed state gambling industry. This situation has for years allowed reputable and established offshore Internet sports betting sites to legally offer their services to New Jersey and US residents, but the governor of the great state of New Jersey wants to keep that money at home.

That is why he issued a directive on Monday, September 8, which empowers his state’s racetracks and casinos to offer sports betting from their land-based operations.

New Jersey College Exclusion, Casino and Racetrack Exclusivity May Prevail This Time Around

This will no doubt to draw the ire of federal authorities, who have already blocked Christie’s plans for sports betting in the past. However, this time Christie is suggesting that sports betting be limited to physical casinos and racetracks. The bill he passed last year could have licensed any brick-and-mortar operation for a sports betting license.

As of Tuesday, the National Football League had no comment when they were reached by ESPN reporters. There is also no early word from the NCAA. And this time around, Governor Christie may be doing things a little wiser. Coupled with his directive, the governor simultaneously filed a motion in federal court asking for clarification or modification of the February 2013 ruling which blocked the sports gambling licensing program he had put in place.

In Chris Christie’s opinion, “sports betting is legal under previous federal rulings,” as long is no betting takes place on college games played in New Jersey, or on college teams based in New Jersey when they play elsewhere.

Senator Lesniak Announces “Victory at Last” for Legal NJ Sports Betting

NJ Senator Raymond Lesniak has been a staunch supporter of gambling in New Jersey for some time. After hearing the Christie directive, he exclaimed, “Victory at last!” Not wasting any time in trying to help a flagging hotel and casino industry, Lesniak proclaimed that, “People should book their hotel rooms in Atlantic City for the Super Bowl now because there won’t be any available in February.”

When asked what his opinion was about the next move for major sports leagues which operate in his state, Lesniak assured reporters that there were definitely going to be objections coming from the NBA, NFL, NCAA and other leagues. But he also said that sports leagues in New Jersey do not “have any arguments left to make.”

He went on to state that it is his belief that sports gambling in land-based casinos and racetracks in New Jersey is here to stay, and that it “is all over but the shouting.”

PASPA Tramples NJ Residents’ Rights – Lesniak, Christie

The move was definitely directed for the Monday time slot when it was revealed. Just hours later, Governor Christie convened a “no press” gathering of key New Jersey power-brokers and legislators to discuss the future of Atlantic City. Three casinos in that state have been closed this year, a full 25% of the small seaside state’s offerings. And a fourth casino is preparing to close its doors next week, with more than 8,000 casino workers losing their jobs since January of this year.

What Christie, Lesniak and other New Jersey legislators have been protesting is the intervention of federal authorities where they believe their state rights are being trampled. And overwhelmingly, the voters of New Jersey have backed sports betting ever since they agreed to a referendum in 2011.

However, Congress pointed to the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) as sufficient reason for stepping in and trumping the state-based decision, even though the residents of New Jersey voted for sports betting.

Missed 1991 Deadline Created Current NJ Sports Betting Absence

Oddly enough, back in 1991, Nevada, Delaware, Montana and Oregon joined New Jersey as potential grandfather clause benefactors when PASPA was being proposed. New Jersey was the only state that missed a filing deadline which would have allowed sports betting in Atlantic City, just as it is currently offered in the casinos in Nevada.

What ramifications does this have on current New Jersey residents that want to enjoy some responsible entertainment at a legal online gambling site? If a NJ sports bettor accesses an established, non-US online sportsbook, there are many viable and reputable choices. Several companies have been filling the sports betting void for New Jersey and other US citizens for decades, and there are a few that do a great job at it.

Aside from those legal online options, for the time being sports betting in land-based casinos and at racetracks in the Garden State is back in business.

The post Christie Legalizes Sports Betting at New Jersey Casinos and Racetracks first appeared on Legal Gambling Sites.

A deal was reached between Amaya Gaming Group, Inc and Oldford Group Limited (which is the parent complain of the Rational Group) with a purchase price of $4.9 billion. These two poker brands are the largest legal online poker sites in operation, with a combined player base of 85 million registered online and mobile players.

Amaya intends to focus heavily on growth initiatives for both brands and has already discussed using their powerful resources to accomplish this.

Amaya Gaming Group executives have indicated that they see this acquisition as a means to expedite the return of the two poker brands to the US market within the newly established state regulated gambling industries, building on the existing footprint that Amaya already has secured in regulated markets worldwide. They have already announced that the Rational Group’s executive management team will be retained.

This transaction will render Amaya as the world largest publicly traded company within the online gambling industry. The move will not affect existing player accounts or the services being currently being offered to players. It will be a seamless transition from a player standpoint.

This deal also bodes well for California’s online poker discussions, particularly where the bad actor clause is concerned. One of the holdups in securing full support from the state’s Indian tribes has been the fact that several of the most prominent tribes had already struck a deal with PokerStars, a brand that was being rendered not eligible to participate in the proposed California online poker initiative due to the ‘bad actor’ language in the proposed legislation.

This affects the brand due to the Black Friday events of 2011 in which PokerStars was seized and investigated by the DOJ on suspicion of violating the UIGEA law. Now that things have been resolved in that case, and the brand is now going to be owned by a corporation that enjoys a healthy presence in the US regulated online gambling arena, it may just be the bridge that brings PokerStars and FullTilt back to American players.

Polls indicate that players welcome PokerStars back to the table, and consider them to be one of the top rated online poker experiences. While they may become a potential provider to players who live in the few states that have already legalized online poker, it is not likely that US players in the other majority of states will have access to any real money legal gambling sites with them or with Full Tilt.

The PPA is ready to welcome them back with open arms as representative John Pappas expressed in his statement where he indicated that the fact that Amaya wanted to purchase the two poker businesses should eliminate any negative perception of the brands. The deal was announced in a press release issued this past Thursday.

The post Amaya Gaming Group Acquires PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker in Unprecedented Online Gaming Purchase first appeared on Legal Gambling Sites.