NBA gambling scandal: Famed ref Scott Foster facing arrest? FBI makes big statement on probe

The FBI is probing several NBA coaches and players over gambling accusations.

Published on: Oct 24, 2025, 02:44:30 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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NBA stars Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier, and Damon Jones were among the many arrested in two illegal gambling cases, the FBI confirmed on Thursday. The Portland coach, Billups, was charged with participating in a conspiracy to fix high-stakes card games tied to the La Cosa Nostra organized crime family. The Heat guard, Rozier, was accused in a separate scheme of exploiting private information about players to win bets on NBA games.

Scott Foster is a famed NBA referee (X/NBA Central)

Billups and Rozier have been placed on leave from their teams, according to the NBA, which said it is cooperating with authorities.

“We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority,” the NBA said in a statement.

Joseph Nocella, the top federal prosecutor for the Eastern District of New York, said it is ‘one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since online sports betting became widely legalized in the United States’.

“My message to the defendants who’ve been rounded up today is this: Your winning streak has ended," Nocella said. “Your luck has run out.”

FBI Director Kash Patel revealed that the ‘fraud is mind-boggling’. “We’re talking about tens of millions of dollars in fraud and theft and robbery across a multiyear investigation.”

One other name that has popped up on social media is that of referee Scott Foster. These accusations, mostly baseless, stem for the 29-year veteran's close association with disgraced official Tim Donaghy, who pleaded guilty in 2007 to betting on games he officiated.

“NBA gambling scandal: Famed ref Scott Foster facing arrest? FBI makes big statement on probe,” one person wrote on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.

“Patiently waiting on that Scott Foster arrest,” another one tweeted.

Foster, who officiated 12 Game 7s since 2014, the most in the league, drew scrutiny after phone records revealed 134 calls between him and Donaghy from October 2006 to April 2007, the period Donaghy admitted to match-fixing. Scott Foster has not been charged or arrested.

(With AP inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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