According to authorities, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat player Terry Rozier were arrested Thursday along with over 30 others in connection to two criminal cases. These cases allege schemes to generate millions of dollars through rigged sports bets and poker games involving Mafia families. Billups was charged with conspiring to fix high-stakes card games, while Rozier was accused of a separate scheme using confidential information to create fraudulent bets. Former NBA assistant coach Damon Jones was also arrested and is charged with participating in both schemes.
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A recent study revealed that viewers of the Stanley Cup finals encountered an average of 3.5 gambling marketing messages per minute, with some broadcasts showing an ad every 13 seconds. This surge in advertising follows the 2018 Supreme Court decision that legalized sports betting in many US states, leading to increased spending by online betting companies. Researchers recorded over 6,200 instances of gambling-related marketing during the Stanley Cup and NBA finals games, with NHL broadcasts displaying significantly more advertising than the NBA. Experts are now calling for federal regulation to address the potential for escalating sports gambling addiction.
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This year’s March Madness tournament is projected to see over $3 billion in bets, surpassing even the Super Bowl’s wagering totals. This surge in betting activity has, according to the NCAA, resulted in a significant increase in online harassment targeting players, coaches, and officials. The rise in online abuse is directly linked to the escalating stakes and the emotional investment of losing bettors. Sports psychologist Brett Woods offers insights into this concerning trend.
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A Senate Judiciary Committee hearing revealed a growing public health crisis stemming from the rapid expansion of legalized sports betting across the US. Testimony from addiction counselors, former athletes, and the NCAA president highlighted increased addiction rates, particularly among young people, and a rise in harassment. While some senators expressed support for federal intervention to regulate the industry and better fund problem gambling services, the gambling industry pushed back, arguing against federal oversight. Concerns were raised about inadequate funding for problem gambling programs relative to the revenue generated, with some states investing significantly less than 1% of gambling revenue on problem gambling services.
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John Q. Hosedrinker