What’s Next for the NBA Gambling Scandal? Attorney Josh Kolsrud Breaks It Down With Mike Broomhead

Inside the NBA Gambling Scandal: Criminal Defense Expert Josh Kolsrud Weighs In

The airwaves have been abuzz with the shocking news of the arrests of prominent Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former NBA player Damon Jones. The trio, now facing an array of federal indictments related to organized gambling schemes and rigged poker games, are at the center of a legal firestorm. In a recent interview on KTAR News with Mike Broomhead, veteran criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Josh Kolsrud was asked to cut through the sensationalism and shed light on what these cases really mean from a legal standpoint.

 

Breaking Down the Charges: Two Scandals, Separate Paths

Kolsrud began by clarifying that although the two indictments arrived simultaneously, they are distinct in substance and scope. He emphasized the importance of understanding the charges in play before leaping to conclusions about their gravity or connection.

 

"Let's divide what these indictments really are because they're completely separate. You have one indictment that deals solely with the situation where a player absented himself from a game...to allow betters to win on a gambling website. There's only one defendant who's on that indictment that's also in the second indictment, which is the poker indictment. It's easy to get these two confused because they were released the same day and placed next to each other." — Josh Kolsrud

 

Indictment #1: Insider Sports Betting

According to Kolsrud, the first indictment revolves around a player allegedly faking an injury to manipulate betting outcomes.

 

• Key Charges: Wire fraud, money laundering (up to 20 years in prison)
• Noteworthy Context: No confirmed Mafia involvement in this strand

 

Drawing a comparison to prior cases, Kolsrud referenced the 2024 sentencing of former NBA athlete Jontay Porter, who received four years for a “very similar scheme,” suggesting a realistic sentencing range that falls below the statutory maximum.

 

Indictment #2: Cheating in High-Stakes Poker

The second indictment concerns illegal poker operations, notable for involving both technological cheating and alleged Mafia ties. Kolsrud painted a vivid picture of how high-profile figures, such as Chauncey Billups, served as the “face card” to lure unsuspecting wealthy targets into the rigged games.

 

"You had everybody in the room that was in on this except for one victim who usually was a wealthy person...they would reel in by what prosecutors call the face card. In the indictment, that was Chauncey Billups. He brought credibility to the game and...at times they would have an x-ray machine where they could see what was on the cards through the table." — Josh Kolsrud

 

• Key Charges: Racketeering, criminal conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering (possible sentences: 2-5 years typical, statutory max 20 years)
• Organized Crime Allegations: Mafia ties are present in this indictment

 

The Difficult Choices Facing Defendants

Kolsrud did not shy away from the stark reality for charged defendants, especially those with visibility, like Billups. He explained that suspects caught up in these wide-ranging stings often face a dilemma: cooperate with authorities and risk repercussions, or remain silent and face stiffer penalties.

 

“It puts someone in a very difficult position like Chauncey Billups. If he wanted to be a witness... he could testify against the people that either coerced him into doing this or were backing him... But I think that it's going to be fair game here, especially if Chauncey Billups is facing, you know, around five years in prison, even though he could get up to 20 — realistically, probably around two to five years.” — Josh Kolsrud

 

Lessons from History: How the NBA Should Respond

Turning to the possible responses from the NBA — and the broader lessons for organizations facing internal scandals — Kolsrud drew parallels to the league’s notorious gambling and drug scandals of the 1980s. He emphasized the critical importance of upholding integrity and argued for a strict, zero-tolerance approach.

 

“What the NBA did then is what it needs to do now: have a zero tolerance policy and anybody that is associated with illegal gambling needs to be banned from the league forever. There needs to be a certain deterrent factor... because the reason why people watch the NBA ... is the idea that everyone is actually trying to win... If you take out the integrity part, what do you have left?” — Josh Kolsrud

 

Kolsrud pressed that the credibility of the league rests on the certainty that its athletes are competing to win, not to manipulate betting lines or serve criminal interests.

 

On Equal Justice for All

When asked about potential involvement of big-name players, Kolsrud held firm: justice must be applied without fear or favor.

 

“You have to send a message. If you show everybody that justice is blind, we don't care how good or bad you are, we're going to treat you the same way. Remember Pete Rose? ... He never made it into the Hall of Fame. We should take the same stance here. If you want to save the league, you can't have any wiggle room here. It has to be zero tolerance. And the punishment has to be so severe that it deters future conduct from happening again.” — Josh Kolsrud

 

Key Takeaways from Josh Kolsrud

• The legal cases are complicated and distinct: one concerns inside sports betting, the other, rigged poker with organized crime links.
• While the statutory penalties are severe, the practical sentences often range from 2–5 years for comparable offenses.
• Defendants in high-profile cases face tough choices and significant personal risks, especially when organized crime is involved.
• For the NBA and other institutions, restoring integrity demands uncompromising action and a transparent, zero-tolerance stance.

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For more legal insights from attorney Josh Kolsrud, visit KolsrudLawOffices.com.