Resurfaced clips from a 2023 podcast show that professional poker player Matthew Berkey previously raised concerns about allegedly rigged poker games involving NBA coach Chauncey Billups, now at the center of a federal gambling indictment. The clips went viral on Thursday, October 24, following news that Billups, 49, was charged in connection with illegal poker games run by New York City mob families.

Berkey’s Early Warnings

On the “Only Friends” podcast in 2023, Berkey described games that he believed were rigged, claiming that players were invited to games “built around Chauncey Billups.” Berkey explained that professional players repeatedly lost large amounts of money to amateurs who appeared inexperienced but consistently won high-stakes hands.

“It obviously was like, for sure confirmed to be cheating,” Berkey said on the podcast. He noted that even professional players recognized the suspicious outcomes but felt powerless to intervene, especially when high-profile figures like Billups were involved.

Berkey described instances where players with long-shot hands kept winning against the pros, leading him to believe the games were manipulated. “It was basically confirmed amongst all the pros that there was cheating, but there was just no recourse,” he added.

Allegations Against Billups

Federal authorities allege that Billups and other high-profile athletes were used “to attract” wealthy players to rigged poker games organized by the Gambino and Lucchese crime families. The mob families reportedly cheated players out of more than $7 million between 2019 and 2025.

The indictment claims that members of the mafia used threats and intimidation to ensure payment of debts from the wealthy victims, with Billups allegedly receiving a cut of the money. Billups, a 2004 NBA Finals MVP and current head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, was released on bond and placed on immediate leave by the NBA following the charges. He is scheduled to appear in federal court on November 24, 2025.

Community Reaction

Berkey expressed concern over the involvement of a high-profile figure, saying, “It’s tough too whenever you’re dealing with somebody high-profile like that because they carry a lot of weight and hold a lot of power.”

The resurfacing of the 2023 podcast clips underscores that whispers of rigged poker games involving Billups had circulated in professional circles years before the indictment. Poker players reportedly suspected cheating but feared retaliation or backlash if they spoke out.

NBA Response

The NBA confirmed that it is taking the allegations seriously. A league spokesperson said, “We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority,” noting that the investigation concerns both Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, who was also charged in a separate illegal betting scheme.