NBA Referee Accused Of Betting On Games

Law Enforcement Source Says FBI Also Probing Allegation Tim Donaghy May Have Influenced Point Spread

(CBS/AP) 
Nevada gambling regulators were not involved in an investigation and had no information about the allegations, said Jerry Markling, enforcement chief for the state Gaming Commission and Gaming Control Board.

Markling, in Las Vegas, said he learned of the probe from news accounts.

“The allegations were new to us,” said Mark Clayton, a control board member. “However, we will continue to monitor them to ascertain whether there is any connection to Nevada's licensed sports books.”

Veteran oddsmaker John Avello, at the Wynn resort on the Las Vegas Strip, said that without specific information it would be difficult to identify wagering irregularities over the last two seasons.

“At this point, it's too early to know if any games were affected,” Avello said, adding that no regulators or investigators had contacted him about the case.

Jay Kornegay, executive director of the sports book at the Las Vegas Hilton, said he had never seen any unusual activity in NBA betting, and was surprised not to have heard about an investigation until Friday.

“Whispers would have happened on the street, and we would have heard something,” Kornegay said. “Any type of suspicious or unusual movements, you usually hear in the industry. We're so regulated and policed, any kind of suspicion would be discussed.

“We haven't seen anything like that in the NBA that I can remember,” he said, “and we haven't been contacted by anybody.”

Kornegay said legal sports betting in Nevada represents a fraction of sports betting worldwide, with 98.5 percent of all action taken outside the state. Clayton cited a 2005 estimate by the National Gambling Impact Study Commission that found $380 billion is wagered on illegal sports betting, compared with $2.25 billion in legal sports betting in Nevada.

Gambling long has been a problem in sports, and leagues have made a point of educating players of the potential pitfalls. The NBA, for example, discusses gambling at rookie orientation, even bringing in former mobster Michael Franceze to speak.

NBA commissioner David Stern had long objected to putting a team in Las Vegas because it permits betting on basketball, though earlier this year allowed Mayor Oscar Goodman to submit a proposal to owners on how the city would handle wagering on a team if it moved there.

Goodman argues that legalized gambling, monitored by the Nevada Gaming Commission, prevents these types of suspicious activities.

“We're the only regulatory agency in the world that really looks at unusual activity as far as the movement of the line and that type of conduct,” he said. “I think it's a good thing that Las Vegas has the type of regulation that makes sure that bad things don't happen.”

[itsnotaboutu]

A fu(king greedy basketball ref, Lindsy Lohans drunken driving, Trump and Rosie's fued. Yeah, and our soldiers are dying for a bunch of filthy animals in a psychotic land, our president offers them up like mice to a snake, and allows millions to invade our country with their dirty useless burden on our society. But hey, our souless media knows what gets the readers to read, don't they?

[slim1h2o]

HANG HIM AND VIC ON THE SAME TREE
Posted by chinesespy at 02:22 AM : Jul 21, 2007

Better yet, Put them in the ring for a death match, take bets on who wins, who ever wins, we degrade them, just like vick did with his dogs, or worse

[chinesespy]

HANG HIM AND VIC ON THE SAME TREE

[incog-nito]

Obviously this is a grave issue, serious enough to merit front-page treatment in all the news networks. One referee's alleged betting on NBA games apparently poses a significant danger to us all.

[SIDNEYWILLIAMSMD]

As a medical doctor dedicated to the preservation of life, and as a dog owner, I am offended by mistreating these dogs with such abuse and death. In my opinion a federal death sentence should be instituted to penalize such maniac who would torture such dogs and cause their deaths. Meanwhile the football league should suspend every SOB associated with this including the refs.

[fairandbal]

I can't say this is a surprise. Those of us who watch the NBA regularly have often felt that the NBA has favorites who they want to win and the Refs carry out that policy. Much like pro wrestling. This just proves we were correct and that was NOT a conspiracy theory.

[swwils]

Well they need to do a Pete Rose and fire his ***,and fine him and he should never be allowed in any stadium again

[menofoz]

The NBA will look to isolate the corruption and sweep the story under the rug. The NFL and MLB will pretend their sports are clean and will attempt to persuade the public that betting on their sports is safe from corruption. The public will move on and so will Vegas and all the sports parlors, bookies and sinister media can continue to reap the harvest.

[menofoz]

I've been of the belief for years that not only NBA but also NFL and MLB sports outcomes and scores have been influenced by gambling. One guy takes the fall this time it's this referee however have no illusions people corruption exists where ever money changes hands and almost no person is immune to thinking of their own self interest when it comes to the bottom line.

The disgusting part about sports gambling is that most folks watching at home or at the event have no clue that many games are fixed it's comparable to the WWE but at least most people know pro wrestling is fixed and no wagers are taken on sports entertainment.

The day that the Vegas opens up the books and the public is allowed to see how much is bet on each team and each game for a fair analysis of the outcome then people will know.

GOOD LUCK GETTING VEGAS TO DO THAT

Posted by red164 at 01:20 PM : Jul 20, 2007

That's sports betting is similar to politics, you need to know the fix or count the votes, or keep score or call fouls or throw a bad pass or miss a few shots or throw a penalty flag or have a player miss a game or get a phony injury or gosh something else.

[egmd]

Wow - I didn't know people even watch basketball in this country anymore, let alone bet on it.

[starleo146]

I believe he or his dad was a ACC referee. I knew Duke should of won that game against Carolina. I even said Carolina refs.

[starleo146]

Maybe John D. Bates will dismiss his case and Vicks Case and anyone who wants a case dismissed ask for this judge and say your a friend of cheney's. No Problem.

[gretagreen]

Why is this the big headline? Odd choice.

[smirk5]

It's not like he obstructed justice in an investigation as to whether someone in our White House knowingly outed a CIA agent or anything. If he is convicted of anything, he should at least have his sentence commuted.

[iceman_1960]

Didn't Pete Rose do time for this sort of thing ?

[beanerman4]

What is my bookie doing in that picture dressed like a ref?

[mountainzen]

Watch him say he was the victim...

[rfcnj68]

Okay mountainZen, but I'll bet that he makes a deal and roles on those that approached him meaning no jail or a minimum time and fine of course.

[thenamesdave]

This is why I watch hockey.

[stevex47]

red,

"many games are fixed it%u2019s comparable to the WWE"

The WWE is fixed? don't tell me, ha.