Time Out: Damon Jones Expected to Plead Guilty for Illegal Sports Betting

The illegal NBA gambling case continues as Damon Jones is expected to plead guilty before a US magistrate judge. This is a shocking turn, as the Lakers’ former unpaid assistant pleaded not guilty last year and may now face felony charges. Read on for more details on the recent developments in this case.

Case Background

Damon Jones is one of three people, alongside Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier, to be charged with illegal gambling. The group was arrested last year in November with Jones being charged for selling information on the injuries of Lakers players. While their identities are not entirely confirmed, the profiles of the players match:

• LeBron James
• Anthony Davis

Jones and 31 other defendants are also accused of rigging poker games throughout the nation, with potential ties to criminal groups like the La Cosa Nostra network. According to the indictment, Jones and Billups would use their celebrity status, with Jones being a former Cleveland Cavaliers guard, to convince people to enter the rigged games. They would then receive a cut of the profits.

Jones’s Status

The specific incident for which Damon Jones is accused occurred in February 2023. He received $2,500 for passing information that a Lakers player would miss a game due to injury, which turned out to be LeBron James. Jones was scheduled to appear before a US magistrate judge on April 28th for a change-of-plea hearing. While the outcome remains uncertain, Jones’s attorney claims that Jones is not cooperating with the government.

“There is a normal federal process for defendants who plead in a federal criminal matter. This case will proceed in that normal process like the thousands of federal cases in this district. No, he is not a cooperator.”

Kenneth Montgomery, Damon Jones’s Attorney

This is a drastic change from November’s federal court hearing in Brooklyn, where Jones pleaded not guilty on multiple counts. Meanwhile, the government had to file several documents before the hearing with US Magistrate Judge Joseph Marutollo, including a three-page proposed plea agreement. Jones’s hearing will take place a day after a motion to dismiss a hearing for Terry Rozier.

Calls for the SAFE Bet Act

Along with his charges, Jones is also alleged to have a serious gambling problem, and it’s assumed he sold information to get out of debt. These incidents have further fueled New York Representative Paul Tonko’s campaign for the SAFE Bet Act. That would create a legal framework for legalized sports wagering, as Tonko believes the safeguards in place are insufficient.

“Claims of prioritizing integrity ring hollow when leagues have sold credibility to gambling operators.”

Paul Tonko, New York Representative

The SAFE Bet Act would create regulations for gambling advertisements, including when they can be aired on TV. It would also create a national self-exclusion list and restrict the use of AI to target players. However, one provision is the prohibition on digital sports betting, which could negatively affect many states.

NBA Expands to Las Vegas

While the case against Jones is ongoing, the NBA is also working towards expanding its business. At the end of March, all 30 NBA governors agreed that Las Vegas could be a potential site for the league’s expansion. However, there are several issues that need to be addressed before they can expand, such as overstretching. Revenue is already split among 30 teams, and there is concern that the league can’t support more teams.

“We don’t have the talent to be trying to start two more teams.”

Tracy McGrady, NBA Commentator for NBC

However, Las Vegas has hosted multiple high-profile sports events, including WWE’s Wrestlemania 42 and the Formula One Grand Prix. It’s also slated to host the 2029 Super Bowl, which shows there is interest and profit in hosting events in Las Vegas. The NBA will continue to study the potential impact of further expansion before it takes any action.

Conclusion

Jones’ case is still ongoing, and many other defendants need to go through court before it can be concluded. These incidents underscore the importance of integrity in the NBA and the need for more to be done to prevent further cases.