Welcome to the News Hour. There are troubling questions tonight for the NBA about gambling after the FBI arrested one of its players and a Hall of Fame head coach. They are among dozens of people charged today in a federal investigation alleging illegal sports betting and rigged poker games organized by the mafia. Combined, the two schemes involved millions of dollars,

and the details around these cases are causing some to question the integrity of the NBA itself

and its connections to the legalized gambling industry that exploded in popularity.

William Brangham has more so. William, how sprawling is this investigation?

Jeff, it is quite vast. More than 30 people have been arrested across 11 states. In two different

indictments, the suspects are charged with crimes including money laundering, extortion, robbery,

and illegal gambling. U.S. Attorney Joseph Nosella of the Eastern District in New York

detailed today how star players, like the Miami Heads Terry Rozier,

used inside information about players for betting purposes.

These defendants perpetrated a scheme to defraud by betting on inside non-public information about NBA athletes

and teams. The non-public information included when specific players would be sitting out future games,

or when they would pull themselves out early for purported injuries or illnesses.

The investigation also accuses several defendants of running rigged poker games,

where victims were lured into playing with former NBA stars.

Joining me now to break this all down is Mike Vorkenoff.

He covers professional basketball for the athletic.

Mike, thank you so much for being here.

Such a sprawling indictment.

Two different indictments, two different schemes alleged here.

Let's talk about that first one,

which is the allegation that players were somehow using inside information

to help win bets.

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