The NBA gambling scandal, which rocked the league just days after the 2025 season opener, has taken a new twist after it was alleged that a former NFL star was involved in a rigged poker game
16:41 ET, 27 Oct 2025
Antonio Gates attends the 9th Annual NFL Honors at Adrienne Arsht Center on February 01, 2020 in Miami, Florida.
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Antonio Gates allegedly participated in a rigged poker game
Former NFL star Antonio Gates allegedly hosted and played in a rigged poker game organized by one of the individuals recently charged in the FBI's investigation into sports gambling, according to a new report.
Just days after the 2025 NBA season opener between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets, the league was rocked by the news of the arrests of Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, ex-Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach Damon Jones, and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier following an FBI investigation into illegal sports gambling and rigged poker games.
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And now it has been reported that Gates, who was inducted into the NFL's Hall of Fame earlier this year following his legendary career with the San Diego and Los Angeles Chargers, was involved in a rigged poker game in Miami, according to investigative journalist Pablo Torre.
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On Sunday, Torre claimed that, according to his sources, Gates — a 16-year NFL veteran who retired in 2018 — allegedly hosted and participated in a game organized by Curtis Meeks, who was indicted by federal prosecutors following the recent FBI investigation.
The ex-NFL tight end's business manager, Denise White, denied the claims in a statement on Monday. "Antonio Gates has not been involved nor has he been accused of any wrong doing, assertions to the contrary are false and without merit," the statement read. "There will be no further comments on this matter."
Meeks, of Texas, is alleged to have worked on providing cheating technology for the underground poker scheme, which prosecutors say was used to help them swindle "fish" — wealthy individuals lured in by Billups and James, who served as "face cards" — out of money.
Antonio Gates is introduced during the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on August 02, 2025 in Canton, Ohio.
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Gates was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame earlier this year(Image: Getty)
The rigged poker games have also been connected to the mafia and crime families, with over 30 arrests having been made across 11 states.
Meanwhile, Rozier's alleged involvement in the illegal gambling scheme, a separate but related case, saw his performances on the court alert sportsbooks across multiple states to unusual betting activity.
Back in March 2023, Rozier, then playing for the Charlotte Hornets against the New Orleans Pelicans, exited a game after just 10 minutes due to an alleged foot injury.
Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were both arrested
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Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were both arrested as part of the FBI probe into illegal gambling(Image: Getty)
However, prior to the game, a massive spike of 30 bets placed in 46 minutes, all of which focused on taking the under props bet on Rozier's performance when it came to points, rebounds, and assists, raised suspicions.
Rozier, now with the Heat, was initially cleared of any wrongdoing by the NBEA. He has reportedly met with league officials and the FBI on multiple occasions since the 2023 incident.
Speaking at a press conference following the news of the arrests, FBI Director Kash Patel explained the investigation into the illegal gambling operation spanned years of work.
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"As you now know, individuals such as Chauncey Billups, Damon Jones, and Terry Rozier were taken into custody today, former, current NBA players and coaches," said Patel at a press conference in New York.
"What you don't know is that this is an illegal gambling operation and sports rigging operation that spanned the course of years. The FBI led a coordinated takedown across 11 states to arrest over 30 individuals today responsible for this case, which is very much ongoing."
Terry Rozier joined the Heat in January 2024
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Terry Rozier joined the Heat in January 2024(Image: Getty)
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch added of the arrests and the illegal gambling scheme, "They placed wagers on unders on players to score less, rebound less, assist less using information that was not yet public. In some instances, players altered their performance or took themselves out of games to make sure those bets paid out.
"One example occurred on March 23, 2023, in Charlotte. Terry Rozier, an NBA player now with the Miami Heat, but at the time playing for the Hornets, allegedly let others close to him know that he planned to leave the game early with a supposed injury.
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"Using that information, members of the group placed more than $200,000 in wagers on his under statistics.
"Rozier exited the game after just nine minutes and those bets paid out generating tens of thousands of dollars in profit. The proceeds were later delivered to his home, where the group counted their cash.
"As the NBA season kicks off, his career is already benched. Not for injury, but for integrity."