Exciting new details in the NBA scandal involving manipulated poker games: Investigations reveal how millions of dollars were stolen through manipulation.
An NBA Hall of Famer and three mafia families: The US federal prosecutor has uncovered a poker fraud scandal in which Chauncey Billups – 2004 Finals MVP and current head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers – sits on the defendant’s bench together with former guard Damon Jones.
A total of 31 people were accused of having manipulated illegal Texas Hold’em games for years and relieved their wealthy victims of millions.
NBA Scandal: How the Poker Fraud Was Committed
According to investigators, the system began in April 2019. The core element was rigged card-shuffling machines that read the card sequence and transmitted it in real time to an external operator.
This person radioed the information to a “quarterback” at the table – for example via smartphone or micro-headset. Discrete gestures, such as tapping the forearm or specific chip stacks, signaled the other accomplices when they should bet, raise, or fold.
Additionally, X-ray tables, mini-cameras in the chip tray, and contact lenses for marked cards were used.
NBA Stars Used as Decoys
To attract new “fish” or “whales,” the masterminds relied on celebrities according to the indictment. Billups and Jones acted as so-called “face cards” – high-profile decoys whose mere presence strengthened the confidence of the other players.
In one round in April 2019, Billups allegedly won two spectacular “gutshot on the river” hands against the same opponent. To dispel suspicion, the fraud group then decided to intentionally have Billups lose a hand, as chat logs prove.
Mafia in the background
The network was reportedly supported by branches of the Bonanno, Gambino, and Genovese families. In Manhattan, their previous underground casinos merged into a single operation that henceforth used manipulated technology.
The mafiosi took care of “security,” organized playing locations, and collected debts – if necessary with violence. For instance, one delinquent player is said to have been beaten, while another was extorted for $10,000 with references to clan connections. Additionally, a modified Deckmate shuffler device worth over $10,000 was stolen to use it for further games.
“This Reminds Me of a Hollywood Thriller”
At least $7.15 million are said to have been lost by the defrauded players; According to court documents, one single victim lost $1.8 million in just two summer months of 2023.
“This reminds me of a Hollywood thriller – but it was bitter reality,” explained Ricky Patel of Homeland Security Investigations. FBI representative Christopher Raia spoke of a “financial pipeline to La Cosa Nostra,” fueled by the allure of high profits and the prospect of “gambling side by side with famous professionals.”
After the allegations became known, Billups turned himself in to the authorities, was released on high bail and under the condition of surrendering his passport, and must appear in court again on November 24. His attorney announced that he would resolutely reject the accusations.
If the charges are substantiated, the five-time All-Star not only faces immense fines but also a significant blemish on his sports legacy.