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'The mafia ain't what it used to be' - FBI's gambling case shows mob's evolution

October 23, 2025

A sophisticated illegal sports betting operation involving members of three American-Sicilian mafia families and several NBA figures has led to the arrest of 31 people across 11 states. Federal authorities revealed elaborate schemes that employed advanced technology including special contact lenses, marked cards, and compromised shuffling machines to cheat victims out of approximately $7 million. The operation allegedly used former NBA athletes as "Face Cards" to attract unsuspecting players to rigged poker games, with current NBA player Terry Rozier and coach Chauncey Billups implicated.

Who is affected

  • Victims who lost approximately $7 million through the cheating schemes
  • Unsuspecting poker players lured into rigged games
  • NBA as an organization and its reputation for integrity
  • Portland Trail Blazers (due to Chauncey Billups being placed on leave)
  • Miami Heat (due to Terry Rozier's involvement)
  • Businesses and industries in New York City that still face organized crime elements

What action is being taken

  • Federal authorities have arrested 31 people across 11 states in connection with the illegal gambling operations
  • The NBA has placed Chauncey Billups on "immediate leave" from his coaching position with the Portland Trail Blazers
  • Terry Rozier's lawyer is fighting the allegations, claiming his client "is not a gambler"
  • Law enforcement is prosecuting members of the Gambino, Bonnano, and Genovese crime families

Why it matters

  • The case demonstrates how the mafia has evolved from violent street crime to more sophisticated and profitable schemes
  • It shows the continued presence and influence of organized crime in certain industries despite decades of prosecution
  • The involvement of professional athletes potentially compromises the integrity of professional sports
  • The sophisticated technology used (contact lenses, marked cards, chip tray analyzers) represents a new frontier in gambling fraud
  • The case illustrates the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in combating organized crime in its modern form

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC