NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas Thursday, October 23, 2025
Oct 24, 2025
Laura Jarrett, NBC News' Senior Legal Correspondent, dives into the intriguing world of the NBA gambling scandal. She reveals the alleged mafia connections and the shocking federal indictments involving players like Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier. The discussion uncovers high-tech cheating devices used in poker, including custom shufflers and marked cards. Jarrett also highlights the ramifications of Rozier's alleged betting tips, adding layers to the unfolding legal drama surrounding sports and integrity.
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Scope Of The NBA Gambling Scheme
- The FBI alleges an expansive scheme linking NBA figures and four New York mafia families in game manipulation and high-tech poker cheating.
- Prosecutors say fame was used to lure wealthy victims while mob-run devices read, marked, or x-rayed cards to rig results.
High-Tech Cheating Tools Exposed
- The scheme used advanced tech: custom shufflers, barcoded decks, hidden cameras and x-ray-capable poker tables.
- Prosecutors presented photos and disassembled devices as evidence of systematic, high-tech cheating.
Players Used As Lures In Rigged Games
- Prosecutors say former NBA players acted as "face cards," using their fame to lure victims into rigged poker nights.
- The poker scheme reportedly produced $7.1 million in victim losses, with one victim losing $1.8 million.