nba betting scandal nba betting scandal scandal involving national_basketball_association nba accusations nba referee knowledge relationships coaches players owners bet professional basketball games july reports investigation fbi public alleged nba seasons referee bet games august pleaded guilty federal charges related investigation year later sentenced months prison years supervised release result general reaction media nba popularity hurt news scandal initial reports story broke new_york_post reported fbi investigating allegations nba referee bet games story soon picked major news agencies revealed referee investigation reports claimed started betting games connections organized crime day initial reports nba commissioner said effort time personnel spared assist investigation bring justice individual betrayed sacred trust professional sports necessary steps protect happening held press conference july address questions investigation called matter isolated case said situation worst situation experienced july congressman illinois chairman asked meet stern matter letter stern rush indicated hearing facts warrant public scrutiny said affair potentially damaging scandals history american sports day reported high school classmate classmate boss bet nba games based tips later revealed rewarded cash correct pick based tips pass surrender initial reports stayed home moving secure location avoid media scrutiny surrendered august pleaded guilty charges conspiracy told judges coded language tip players physical condition player referee relations specifically admitted passing information games season total received pass inside information admitted severe gambling addiction medication address released bond sentencing june alleged statement lawyers series nba playoffs according nba instructions alluded specifically playoff game personal resulting obviously injured players ignored occurred view nba interest add game series game referred widely believed game western conference finals sacramento kings shot free throws fourth quarter referred playoff series team owner alleged letting team player away illegal screens told referee supervisor game enforce screening rules strictly team player playoff series believed round encounter houston rockets dallas nba playoffs rockets led series losing games rockets head coach fined stating referee targeting houston center july sentenced months prison years supervised release lawyer asked sentence admitted brought shame family profession released federal prison november supervised release federal parole type officer reaction immediately reports released writers said nba popularity hurt news espn said general american public turning away end dynasty isn going help bring said integrity games took major hit sports gambling expert president sports betting information site tracked game worked discovered seasons investigated nba teams involved scored points expected las_vegas sports books percent time previous seasons happened percent time according bell odds percent chance results happened outside factor found straight games worked game point spread moved points tip indication big money game big money won time indication going bell suggested way wasn fix known actions game said year earliest caught told espn fairly easy sports official fix game despite stern insistence rogue official according official directly influence outcome game percent time money game instance said nba referee fix total score calling teams bonus game fixed said officials prime suspects players making money risk future believed connected mob turned fbi result betting scandal stern revised guidelines behavior nba meeting despite labor agreement restricted participating forms gambling revealed half nba officials albeit addition admitted engaging form gambling stern stated ban gambling absolute view absolute harsh particularly enforced years gambling rules revised allow engage forms betting sports referee related rule changes announcement game moved minutes tip morning game reduce value information received season training counseling gambling thorough background checks carried league declared intention analyze statistical relationship nba games gambling patterns games interactions nba teams easier formal
2007 NBA betting scandal