The NFL is urging its players to exercise heightened caution.
In response to significant NBA news on Thursday, where the FBI disclosed two major indictments related to illegal sports betting and gambling involving players and coaches—which led to the arrests of 31 individuals—the NFL has taken precautionary measures.
On Friday, the league distributed a memo to all 32 teams, reminding players, coaches, staff, and league personnel to comply with the NFL’s gambling regulations.
Addressing the recent major gambling busts that have overshadowed the start of the NBA season, the NFL reasserted its gambling policy.
“NFL players must not: (1) Place any bets on NFL Football. (2) Influence or manipulate any NFL game or event in any way. (3) Disclose confidential, non-public information regarding NFL games, players, or events to any third parties,” the memo emphasized.
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“Players must report any gambling debts exceeding $10,000 and remain vigilant as significant gambling debts may expose them to potential exploitation,” the memo further stated.
The FBI has arrested 31 individuals linked to a rigged poker game operation allegedly supported by organized crime in NYC.
- Ernest Aiello — reputed Bonanno mobster
- Nelson “Spanish G” Alvarez
- Louis “Lou Ap” Apicella
- Ammar “Flapper Poker” Awawdeh
- Saul Becher — professional poker player
- Chauncey Billups — Portland Trail Blazers coach, NBA Hall of Famer and 2004 NBA champion
- Matthew “The Wrestler” Daddino
- Eric “Spooky” Earnest
- Lee Fama — professional poker player
- John Gallo
- Marco Garzon
- Thomas “Tommy Juice” Gelardo — reputed Lucchese mobster
- Jamie Gilet
- Tony “Black Tony” Goodson
- Kenny Han
- Shane “Sugar” Henne
- Osman “Albanian Bruce” Hoti
- Horatio Hu
- Zhen “Scruli” Hu
- Damon “Dee Jones” Jones — NBA player from 1998 to 2009
- Joseph Lanni
- John “John South” Mazzola
- Curtis Meeks
- Nicholas Minucci
- Michael Renzulli
- Anthony Ruggiero Jr.
- Anthony “Doc” Shnayderman
- Robert “Black Rob” Stroud
- Seth Trustman
- Sophia “Pookie” Wei
- Julius Ziliani
On Thursday, notable figures including Chauncey Billups, Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former Cavaliers player Damon Jones were arrested as part of an extensive investigation spanning 11 states.
Rozier is accused of involvement in illegal betting, with claims that he warned associates about exiting a game with an injury in March 2023, leading to substantial wagers on related betting lines.
Billups faces allegations concerning his participation in a Mafia-linked underground poker operation that reportedly involved rigged games. Jones, like Rozier, is also under scrutiny for illegal gambling associations.
The NFL has experienced its own challenges with gambling-related controversies, including wide receiver Calvin Ridley, who faced a season-long suspension for betting on NFL games while addressing personal issues. Additionally, several players were suspended in 2023, though some have since been reinstated.
