Mob Ties and Rigged Bets: Inside the N.B.A.’s Gambling Scandal

The Daily

The New York Times

Daily News, News

4.4 • 102.8K Ratings

🗓️ 27 October 2025

⏱️ 28 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

A federal investigation into illegal gambling has rocked the N.B.A. On Thursday, more than 30 people were indicted in the case, which involves the Mafia, high-profile players and the manipulation of professional basketball games to rig bets. Jonah E. Bromwich and Jenny Vrentas, who have been covering the story, discuss the shocking facts and the growing concern that online betting might be compromising the integrity of the sport.

Transcript

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0:00.0	From the New York Times, I'm Natalie Ketrowaf. This is The Daily.
0:09.8	Well, it's the story that rocked the sports world, a multi-million dollar betting scheme that led to more than 30 arrests, including current and former NBA players and coaches.
0:19.2	Today, we go inside the federal investigation into a legal gambling that has rocked the NBA.
0:26.7	You know, this is right out of a movie.
0:28.1	You're talking about mob stuff.
0:29.7	You're talking about cheating at poker games, rigging poker games.
0:32.6	The alleged schemes involve the mafia, high-profile players, and the manipulation of professional basketball
0:40.1	games to rig and win bets.
0:43.4	I understand betting is legal, but I don't think it's too much to ask of a player or a coach.
0:48.6	Do not engage in this.
0:49.8	For me, it's all about trust.
0:50.9	People watch this game because they think it's real and fair.
0:54.0	And I'm just ashamed that they think it's real and fair.
1:00.3	And I'm just ashamed that they put themselves and put their family and put the NBA in this position.
1:03.3	There's all saying in the hood. All money ain't good money. I talked to my colleagues, Jonah Bromwich and Jenny Vrentis, about the shocking facts of the cases
1:09.6	and the growing concern that the explosion of online
1:13.6	betting may be compromising the integrity of the sport.
1:21.2	It's Monday, October 27th.
1:31.7	Jonah, the NBA season started last week.
1:34.3	Tons of storylines there, huge week for the league.
1:39.9	But the biggest story at this moment for the NBA had nothing to do with the games.
1:45.3	It was this massive announcement made by the FBI director Cash Patel on Thursday.
	...

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