US Senate Probes NBA Gambling Scandal, Seeks Commissioner's Response

The NBA is under intense scrutiny from the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation following a major gambling scandal involving multiple figures such as Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups. The Senate committee has formally requested detailed information from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver about the league's gambling policies, internal investigations since 2020, and specifically why Rozier was cleared by the NBA's internal probe before federal indictments were made. Lawmakers expressed concern that such scandals could damage public trust and potentially paint all sports as corrupt. This congressional inquiry could pave the way for significant legislative changes, including the creation of an independent Sports Integrity Commission to oversee professional sports gambling, similar to the SEC’s role in financial markets. The NBA's handling of this scandal may determine whether leagues continue self-regulation or face external oversight. The rapid expansion of legalized sports betting since 2018 has made such federal intervention increasingly likely if the integrity of games is questioned.