'Mind-boggling' poker fraud used X-ray tables, high-tech glasses and NBA players

October 24, 2025

In a scheme described as "reminiscent of a Hollywood movie," mafia members from several notorious crime families allegedly orchestrated elaborate poker games that cheated wealthy victims out of at least $7 million. The sophisticated operation, which began around 2019, used former professional athletes as "face cards" to lure in "unwitting victims" to underground poker games where hidden technology—including X-ray tables, marked cards, special contact lenses, and rigged shuffling machines—ensured victims couldn't win. Information from the game was relayed to off-site operators who would signal to confederates at the table, creating a system where victims were methodically fleeced while the proceeds were laundered through cryptocurrency and shell companies to fund criminal enterprises.

Who is affected

Wealthy gamblers, celebrities, and professional sports stars who were the "unwitting victims" of the poker scheme
Individuals who lost money, including one person who lost at least $1.8 million
Portland Trail Blazers organization, whose head coach Chauncey Billups was arrested
NBA as a sporting institution, with both current and former members implicated
Gambling and betting industry stakeholders

What action is being taken

Federal authorities are conducting a sprawling investigation that has led to more than 30 arrests
The Portland Trail Blazers have placed head coach Chauncey Billups on leave
The Portland Trail Blazers are "fully co-operating with the investigation"
Prosecutors are pursuing charges including wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy against the defendants
The FBI is dismantling the fraud scheme that operated across multiple U.S. cities

Why it matters

The scheme defrauded victims of at least $7 million across multiple U.S. cities
The operation allegedly helped fund mafia criminal enterprises, specifically the Bonnano, Gambino, Lucchese, and Genovese crime families
The case reveals sophisticated technological methods being used for gambling fraud, including X-ray tables, secret cameras, and specialized contact lenses
High-profile sports figures are implicated, potentially damaging the integrity of professional basketball
The case connects to a separate scheme involving NBA players allegedly faking injuries to influence betting odds

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC