The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation is requesting information from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver about how he plans to address a massive gambling scandal that rocked the league as it opened it season this month.
In a letter dated Monday, the committee said its members have become concerned “sports betting scandals like this one may lead the American public to assume that all sports are corrupt.”
Last week, more than 30 people, including Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, were arrested in connection with illegal sports betting and rigged poker games, following a years-long investigation by federal authorities.
The committee’s letter requested documents from the NBA about any investigation it has conducted into teams and players related to sports gambling, and lawmakers have previously said they’d like to see Silver testify before Congress about the scandal.
The NBA earlier this year said it had investigated what it called suspicious wagers on “unders” related to Rozier, though it found no violation of league rules, ESPN reported.
“This Committee needs to understand the specifics of the NBA’s investigation and why Rozier was cleared to continue playing basketball,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter.
Sports wagering has exploded in popularity in recent years, with major pro sports leagues and franchises partnering with sportsbooks and betting platforms as they look to capitalize on the growing number of fans who gamble on games.
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