NBA Commissioner Lobbies For Sports Betting Czar

NBA Commissioner Silver sees a need for sports betting leadership

Asked about the possibility of establishing what in essence would be a sports betting czar, NBA Commissioner Silver certainly seemed to favor the notion.

“The idea of having some czar or commissioner who could oversee it and would have subpoena powers, powers that the league office doesn’t have when we do those sorts of investigations, I think would be very helpful,” Silver told NBA.com. “I’m very pro-regulation here … I think more is necessary here to get our arms around this.”

Recently, former U.S. Attorney Carolyn Pokorny proposed creating a federal sports betting czar or commissioner to oversee the U.S. gambling market. She believes that such a person would be in a position to combat ongoing sports integrity scandals.

Pokorny views this proposed regulatory body as operating similarly to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in the financial industry. That organization is equipped with subpoena power to investigate integrity issues.

Silver acknowledged that his league doesn't have the authority to address these gambling scandals. The only action the NBA can take is to issue suspensions to league personnel involved in any gambling scandal. Some form of federal oversight could take things much further on the legal front.

The NBA has been rocked by betting scandals

In the past year, the NBA has been rocked by major betting scandals. It's led to league suspensions of several players and coaches. Many of those involved are now also under federal indictment for their alleged crimes.

Among the players involved are Terry Rozier, Malik Beasley, Jontay Porter, and Ed Davis. Coaches facing sanctions are Damon Jones and Chauncey Billups.

Rozier and Beasley are facing charges of manipulating their personal stats in games to benefit bettors. Those incidents have led Silver to add his voice to other leaders in the sports industry who are concerned about player prop bets. These wagers are over/unders on a player's stats in a game.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and NCAA President Charlie Baker are also voicing their concerns over prop betting and its impact on betting scandals.

A betting commissioner could assist all pro leagues

Certainly, betting scandals in pro sports since the legalization of widespread sports betting in the US in 2018 aren't only in the NBA. Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz are facing charges over a pitch-rigging scandal.

In the NHL, Ottawa Senators forward Shane Pinto served a 41-game suspension for betting on sports by proxy. And in the past week, the NFL suspended Arizona Cardinals executive Ryan Gold for providing inside information to sports bettors. Gold is facing accusations of providing confidential, nonpublic insider information to sports bettors about the Cardinals' 2026 NFL Draft picks before the official announcement of the picks.

Silver believes that a sports betting commissioner could be of benefit to all pro leagues.

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