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Portland Trail Blazers head coach and former NBA Finals MVP Chauncey Billups is expected in a Brooklyn federal courtroom today to answer to serious charges tying him to a Mafia-backed poker scheme. The case, which has rocked the pro sports world, alleges Billups played a role in high-tech cheating operations that targeted wealthy poker players across the country.
Federal prosecutors claim Billups and other former pro athletes used their celebrity status to attract players to illicit games rigged using X-ray card tables and manipulated shufflers. Once drawn in, victims reportedly lost millions, with the total fraud estimated at $7 million since 2019.
Cheating, Mafia Ties, and Violence: A High-Stakes Setup
The poker operation is alleged to have been protected and bankrolled by members of New York’s most infamous crime families — the Gambino, Genovese, and Bonanno clans. According to the indictment, debts were collected through threats, assault, and extortion.
Billups, charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering, has denied any wrongdoing. His attorney said the idea that Billups would risk his legacy and freedom over a poker game is “absurd.”
More Athletes Tied to the Crackdown
Billups isn’t the only former player caught in the dragnet. Ex-Cavs guard Damon Jones was also charged, and prosecutors have linked the broader investigation to alleged insider betting in the NBA and MLB.
Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, along with Miami Heat’s Terry Rozier, face separate charges tied to rigged wagers during pro games.
All involved parties have pleaded not guilty.
Impact on Fans and the Betting Public
For everyday sports bettors and online poker players, this case shows the risk that even regulated gambling markets can be manipulated from the inside. The rise of legal sports betting in the U.S. has opened massive new revenue streams — and, clearly, new opportunities for corruption.
While the average online casino player likely won’t find themselves at a poker table with NBA stars and mob affiliates, this case serves as a warning: the glamor of high-stakes games often hides deeper risks. Cheating, especially when backed by organized crime, doesn’t just hurt the victims at the table — it chips away at trust in the entire system.
What’s Next for Billups
Billups, currently suspended without pay, led the Trail Blazers in their season opener before the charges were unsealed in late October. He was replaced by assistant coach Tiago Splitter.
At 49, the former Detroit Pistons legend and five-time All-Star now faces a legal battle that could end his coaching career — and leave a lasting stain on a once-pristine basketball legacy.
The federal case continues to unfold, with the next phase expected to shed more light on just how deep the corruption went — and whether more names from the sports world will surface.
