NBA sports betting experts respond to arrests
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – The Miami Heat are coming to Memphis on Friday to take on the Grizzlies at FedExForum.
But one player will not be with the team. Heat guard Terry Rozier was among dozens of those arrested in a federal gambling case.
With this being the opening week for the NBA, some people are calling it one of the biggest scandals in NBA history.
Sports betting has been expanding across the country.
Thursday morning, three notable names hit the TV screens, but not for a good thing. Head coach and former NBA player Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat star Terry Rozier and former Vancouver Grizzlies player Damon Jones were all arrested for multiple charges of wire fraud, money laundering and illegal gambling.
Action News 5’s Jared Thomas talked with a professor and the executive director of the Tennessee Institute for Gambling Education and Research, who says sports betting is fun, but only when you use it correctly.
“Most people play, they bet on sports… It makes a game you wouldn’t [normally] care about more fun,” said James Whelan. “Two teams are in the Super Bowl, but if you don’t care about either of them, it’s a little more fun; you’ll have a little more money on it. So, it’s fine, and if people want to do it, it should be fine, but at the same time, with everything, there is a risk. We need protections.”
He explains further, saying everything is associated with sports betting, which makes it harder for people to get away from it. But the future goal should be to protect people from getting caught up in these situations.
The NBA also released a statement earlier Thursday saying it is reviewing the indictments:
“Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups are being placed on immediate leave from their teams, and we will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities. We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority.”
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