The Justice Department is bringing charges against more than 30 people in two different, but possibly related, alleged criminal schemes involving the Mafia, sports betting on the NBA, and rigged poker games. The most notable arrests include Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier.

Critics of legalized sports betting have been quick to dunk on the NBA for getting involved with sports betting. But legalized sportsbooks, and their cooperation with the NBA and law enforcement, are likely a big reason the scheme was uncovered at all.

The sports betting scheme allegedly involved Rozier and a complex web of former players getting insider information about certain players, and using straw bettors to place bets at casinos and online sportsbooks on thos

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