According to a Quinnipiac University Sports Poll of respondents nationally, one-third (33%) believe that NBA players and coaches engage in illicit activities to influence NBA game betting either very frequently or somewhat frequently.

The report was made public in response to an ongoing FBI investigation into a current player's manipulation of an NBA game for betting purposes and an illicit poker operation involving a current NBA coach and former player.

"According to the Quinnipiac survey, 12% of Americans think that players and coaches are very often involved in illegal activities to influence betting on NBA games, with 21%  saying somewhat often. Sixty-six per cent think NBA players and coaches are either occasionally (43%) or rarely (23%) involved in illegal activities to influence betting on NBA games.

Perception Issues

More than thirty individuals who were allegedly participating in an illegal sports betting and gambling enterprise were named in indictments released by the FBI last month. It has been alleged that Miami Heat player Terry Rozier pulled himself out of a Charlotte Hornets game in March 2023 so a group of bettors he was connected to might profit on prop bets surrounding him.

Regarding poker, former NBA player Damon Jones and current Portland Trailblazers coach and NBA Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups were detained in an alleged illicit poker operation involving multiple New York criminal families.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has received a letter from bipartisan leaders of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce requesting that he testify before a congressional hearing regarding the indictments and the NBA's efforts to address such suspected criminal activity.

Are NBA Games Not Played Equitably?

The involvement of NBA players and coaches in illegal sports betting is viewed by nearly seven out of ten Americans (68%) as either a significant problem (32%) or not a major problem (36%), while 30% believe it to be either a minor problem (20%) or not a problem (10%).

Additionally, according to the survey, 48% of respondents are either not at all or not very sure that NBA games are played fairly.

"Players missing shots or rebounds on purpose or faking injuries to influence bets is a common illegal sports betting tactic (9% of those surveyed think this happens very often, or somewhat often, at 20%), while 69% think it happens occasionally (41%) or rarely if ever (29%).

Twenty-eight percent believe that coaches use roster decisions to affect betting very frequently (8%) or quite frequently (20%), while 38% believe it happens infrequently and 33% believe it happens infrequently or never.

Leaked Inside Information

When asked if insider information regarding NBA players' availability is leaked to influence bets, 15% of respondents said it happens very frequently, 30% said it happens rather frequently, 39% said it happens occasionally, and 14% said it happens rarely or never.