Understanding the Billups–Rozier case
Last week, the NBA was rocked by a major scandal involving match-fixing and sports betting. An FBI operation in the United States resulted in the arrest of 31 individuals, including Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups (NBA champion and Hall of Famer) and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier. Investigations allege that Billups was involved in illegal poker games linked to the mafia, while Rozier is accused of participating in an illicit betting scheme. The prosecutor described it as “one of the most corrupt cases in the history of sports,” highlighting its gravity for the league.
At the core of the scandal lies the suspicion that NBA games were manipulated to benefit certain bettors. According to the investigation, Rozier had allegedly colluded with a group of gamblers since 2023. While still playing for the Charlotte Hornets, he reportedly agreed to leave a game early under the pretense of injury — leaking that privileged information to outside partners.
This led bettors to wager over $200,000 that Rozier would perform below his averages (points, rebounds, etc.), which came true when he exited the game after just a few minutes — generating millions in profits for the group.
The scheme revolved around insider information regarding which players would sit out or leave games due to injury, enabling premeditated betting strategies.
Importantly, these bets were placed through licensed online sportsbooks and casinos in multiple U.S. states — which ultimately helped authorities trace the suspicious activity, clearly demonstrating that a regulated betting environment is far safer.
Rapid detection by betting operators
A key point — often overlooked by the general public — is that the unusual betting patterns did not go unnoticed by licensed operators. Records show that at least six sportsbooks across different states detected suspicious betting patterns involving Rozier’s performance in that 2023 game.
These irregularities were compiled in a report by U.S. Integrity, a sports integrity monitoring firm, and immediately reported to the relevant authorities. The NBA itself had investigated the anomaly at the time, though it concluded there was no internal rule violation. In other words, it was the regulated operators themselves who raised the initial alarm about a potential fraud.
This proactive behavior is not an exception — it is the rule among serious, regulated betting companies. In Brazil and Europe, for example, operators have also played a key role in uncovering potential match-fixing cases. One notable incident involved Flamengo striker Bruno Henrique, where suspicions about a deliberate yellow card arose after a betting operator detected an unusual concentration of bets on that specific event. In another case, an operator suspended betting markets after realizing that 98% of all card-related wagers were placed on a single player, with multiple maximum-value bets registered within hours.
These examples illustrate how licensed platforms monitor markets in real time and act immediately upon detecting irregularities — often preventing potential damage before official investigations even begin.
International standards and cooperation against fraud
Regulated betting operators follow strict international protocols aligned with global standards for match-fixing prevention. A robust integrity ecosystem underpins the sector. For example, the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) brings together major global companies to share alerts about suspicious betting activity worldwide. In 2023 alone, the IBIA issued 184 alerts of potential manipulation in sports competitions — a figure that rose to 251 alerts in 2024, showing a growing commitment to transparency.
Similarly, companies like Sportradar continuously audit betting markets — including unregulated ones — and have noted that fraudsters tend to favor unlicensed sites precisely because they lack oversight. In modern sports, this constant vigilance makes it increasingly difficult for match-fixers to operate in regulated environments.
Beyond technology, institutional cooperation is a cornerstone of anti-fraud efforts. Regulated betting companies work hand in hand with sports leagues and authorities, sharing data and best practices. In organized jurisdictions, reporting suspicious activities is not optional — it’s a legal requirement.
In Brazil, for instance, operators are legally required to report any suspicious cases to the federal regulator (Secretaria de Prêmios e Apostas) immediately, under penalty of heavy fines or even license revocation. Even before this mandate, responsible companies had voluntarily adopted these protocols, cooperating with oversight bodies to prevent illicit activities.
To maintain these international standards and ensure fair play, the industry continuously invests in technology and integrity initiatives, such as:
- Real-time monitoring: Advanced tools (including AI) and dedicated teams track bets 24/7, detecting anomalies instantly.
- Global alert networks: Through associations like the IBIA and auditing partners such as Sportradar, operators share information across borders, ensuring suspicious patterns are flagged worldwide.
- Partnerships with sports authorities: Licensed operators establish cooperation agreements with leagues, clubs, and government agencies to support investigations.
- Education and compliance programs: The sector promotes integrity workshops for athletes and officials and enforces strict internal compliance, including due diligence, whistleblowing channels, and staff training.
All these measures reflect a clear commitment: to protect the integrity of competition — and by extension, the credibility of the betting market itself. Licensed operators know their long-term success depends on the public’s confidence that sports outcomes are legitimate.
Market integrity vs. common myths
The seriousness with which regulated betting operators treat match-fixing contrasts with a persistent myth: that “the house always wins” and therefore might benefit from manipulated outcomes. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth.
Manipulation undermines the very foundation of the market — authenticity and unpredictability are what make betting entertaining.
If players lose trust in fair outcomes, the entire ecosystem collapses. Moreover, from a financial perspective, fraud harms operators: they might end up paying out on artificial results, suffer direct financial losses, face lawsuits, and damage their reputation with regulators and players. In short, there is no sustainable gain in fixed results for legitimate operators — only risk.
It’s also worth noting that true conspirators operate outside the reach of regulated markets, using illegal or offshore platforms to avoid oversight. This reinforces that major licensed operators are natural enemies of match-fixing, not allies. They cooperate with law enforcement to purge bad actors who exploit sports for illicit gain, understanding that transparency and fairness are essential to the industry’s survival.
Conclusion: A commitment to sports integrity
The scandal involving Billups, Rozier, and others exposes the dark side of match-fixing — but also highlights a key positive: the integrity system worked. Regulated betting operators detected and reported irregularities, the NBA and FBI acted, and those involved are facing consequences. This proves that the legal, regulated betting market supports sports integrity — not undermines it.
For both operators and regulators, this case serves as a lesson and a reaffirmation of purpose: to continue strengthening monitoring systems, reporting mechanisms, and international cooperation against fraud.
Ultimately, it shows that preserving fair competition is in the best interest of everyone — sports leagues, public authorities, and above all, the betting companies committed to ethical entertainment. Fighting match-fixing protects not only fans and the credibility of sports but also the sustainability of the betting industry itself.
In short, integrity is not just a slogan — it’s a daily operational value. The ongoing efforts of licensed operators to detect, report, and prevent match-fixing remain the most effective response to skepticism.
At Apostou, these principles guide our actions every day. The company maintains rigorous monitoring practices and close cooperation with regulators and integrity firms, reaffirming its commitment to transparency, responsible gaming, and clean sport.
Cases like Billups–Rozier, despite their negative nature, send a clear message: fraud will always be uncovered — and those who bet on ethics will always win in the long run.
Marcelo Mansani Munhoz da Rocha
Legal, Compliance, and Data Protection at Apostou; member of the Brazilian Commission on Gaming and Lotteries Law
