House Committee Seeks NBA Briefing on Alleged Illegal Gambling and Game Fixing
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Six members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce asked NBA commissioner Adam Silver for an in-person briefing by Oct. 31 after federal indictments this week named Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former player-coach Damon Jones in alleged gambling and game-fixing schemes.
In a bipartisan letter sent Friday, the lawmakers voiced concern over “allegations of illegal gambling and sports rigging” and asked the league to outline any NBA-related gambling activity uncovered by authorities. They also requested details on how the NBA prevents the misuse of nonpublic information, whether its code of conduct effectively deters such behavior, and if current partnerships with sports-betting companies are being reconsidered. DraftKings and FanDuel serve as the league’s official wagering partners, along with several authorized gaming operators.
The committee, which oversees consumer protection and sports, has previously examined steroid use in Major League Baseball, anti-doping efforts at the Olympic Games and the sexual abuse of Olympic athletes. Its latest inquiry follows two expansive federal investigations that led to this week’s indictments.
Lawmakers further asked Silver to identify any regulatory gaps that could enable fraudulent betting. During Tuesday’s appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Silver said he favored stronger oversight, calling for a national framework instead of the current state-by-state system and urging limits on gambling promotion and advertising.
The letter noted that concerns about insider wagering within the NBA are longstanding. It cited former referee Tim Donaghy, who served 15 months in federal prison after admitting in 2007 to betting on games he officiated, and former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter, who pleaded guilty to manipulating his performance in two games to benefit gamblers linked to the same scheme involving Rozier and Jones. Porter is awaiting sentencing.
The NBA has not yet commented on the committee’s request.
Source: ESPN
