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This combo of images shows charged NBA personnel, from left, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former Cleveland Cavaliers’ Damon Jones. (AP Photo/File)

NBA Gambling Scandal, Operation Royal Flush and Greed

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Prosecutors say the suspects in Thursday’s NBA-Mafia-linked gambling bust used a wide range of sophisticated technology to cheat victims out of millions of dollars. At Thursday’s news conference, it was revealed that Operation Royal Flush began as early as 2019, with rigged games played in major markets like New York City.

In essence, this FBI investigation has been ongoing for five years. But now, everything is starting to come to the surface, with every day that goes by, more and more information is disclosed. This drip-drip story creates a nightmare scenario for a very lucrative sports league with a worldwide audience.

The NBA is both extremely popular and lucrative in China, where it is the country’s most popular sport with an estimated half a billion fans and a business value of around $5 billion. This story has worldwide repercussions.

Federal indictments filed in October 2025 allege that at least two NBA players faked injuries as part of an illegal gambling and game-manipulation scheme, and there is more. Some made bets based on information about a certain player who would not be available, thus encouraging someone “on the outside ” to bet against a particular team without their star player.

It is ugly, folks. From X-ray tables to hidden cameras and even per-marketed cards, prosecutors say the suspects in this NBA-Mafia-linked gambling bust used a wide range of very sophisticated technology in order to cheat victims out of millions of dollars.

At Thursday’s news conference, officials said the poker scheme, dubbed ‘Operation Royal Flush, started with an ” Expect domino effect ” after gambling allegations involving NBA” Said famous attorney Mark Geragos.

US Congress sent a letter to NBA commissioner Adam Silver requesting a briefing and expressing concern over “allegations of illegal gambling and sports rigging”. Looks like this NBA Gambling scandal has opened a can of worms.

The NCAA said Thursday it is investigating 13 Division I men’s basketball players at six schools — including Temple and Arizona State — for alleged violations of gambling rules and failing to cooperate with investigators.

The NBA has the highest average player earnings per year. In the 2024-25 season, the average NBA player salary was about $11.91 million, surpassing other major leagues like the National Football League (NFL) and Major League Baseball Politicians talk all the time about the “privilege class” in the United States, usually they do not go into sports, it becomes a talking point among political people, but the fact remains that professional sports in the United States is a very lucrative business for all involved, including players.

While the average salary of an American is around $63.000 per year, the average salary of an NBA player is around $11 million per year. $11 million per year would be more than enough for you and me and the majority of people, but there is one word that plays a big role here that nobody has mentioned.

Greed, one of the seven deadly sins, is a desire for more and more and more, like wealth, power, or possessions. We cannot forget that Greed is also part of this, even among those who are already millionaires.

Notes: Numerous regulated sports gambling websites are available in the U.S., but they are only accessible in states where sports betting is legal . Draft Kings and Fan Duel lead the market, with Bet MGM, Caesars Sportsbook, Fanatics Sportsbook, and bet365 also being popular choices.

Quote: “Eat your betting money but don’t bet your eating money.”—Horse Racing Proverb.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz has been placed on non-disciplinary leave involving gambling on baseball. Ortiz is part of a investigation and was accused of gambling activity on pitches thrown on June 15, 2025 in Seattle and against the St Louis Cardinals on June 27, 2025. In this photo Ortiz is pitching against the Sacramento A’s on Sat Jun 21, 2025 in West Sacramento (AP News photo)

MLB The Show Charlie O:

#1 With the suspension of Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz for gambling on the game is this a trend that is rising or is this something that has been going on in baseball for sometime now.

#2 Ortiz was accused of throwing pitches for wide ones or walking hitter, giving up hits that he had bet on what’s your take on those accusations.

#3 Charlie you have to look back on former Pittsburgh Pirate Tucupito Marcano who was permanently banned from MLB for betting on his own team last season. Marcano bet on 25 Pirates games that he didn’t play in. It also was reported that he bet on 400 MLB games.

#4 With the suspensions of both Ortiz and Marcano and it can go the other way where betters can get upset like one did overseas and threaten Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr for losing a game. How much are these games authentic and which games are thrown?

#5 With the MLB’s association with gambling sponsorships which include high profile on line betting organizations like Draft Kings and Fan Duel to name two high profile on line gambling places where players can bet on baseball does that leave it things wide open for players to wager themselves?

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