Inside Terry Rozier’s Betting Scandal: How Much Could You Have Won with Insider Info?

The Terry Rozier gambling scandal has rocked the NBA and the world of sports as a whole. Charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, Rozier is facing 20 years in prison for each count.

The shocking incident stems from a game Rozier played on March 23, 2023, against the New Orleans Pelicans as a member of the Charlotte Hornets. Per the allegations, Rozier texted a childhood friend that he would be removing himself from the game in the first quarter due to an injury.

Suppose you were a friend of Rozier and were on the receiving end of this information. Morals aside, how much money would you have made if you used the insider to bet on the game? I explore the odds from that fateful day and take a deep dive into what you could have earned by betting $100 on each wager.

Charlotte Hornets vs. New Orleans Pelicans Odds (March 23, 2023)

Let’s start with the closing betting odds for Hornets vs. Pelicans:

According to the best NBA betting sites, the point spread and moneyline heavily favored the New Orleans Pelicans to win. The point spread held strong at -9 throughout the vast majority of sportsbooks. Meanwhile, the moneyline hovered around -380 to -450, with an average of roughly -420.

Note that the point spread opened at -8 or -9, depending on the outlet. In short, we can come to the conclusion that the main markets weren’t severely impacted by the insider information. In any event, Rozier’s text message likely would have prompted you to bet on the Pelicans and the under.

Rozier was a prolific scorer on the Hornets. He averaged 21.1 points per game during the 2022-23 season. With this in mind, Rozier’s absence likely would have encouraged you to bet on the Pelicans’ point spread, moneyline, and under. The Pelicans pummeled the Hornets in a 115-96 final score.

Let’s look at your winnings if you used Rozier’s insider text message to play the main betting markets:

Not a bad result, but still, this is probably not the smartest approach. There’s a chance you could lose these bets, and the profit would be higher (and secured) if you went after specific Rozier prop bets.

Terry Rozier Prop Bet Odds vs. New Orleans Pelicans (March 23, 2023)

Closing betting odds for Rozier prop bets:

The allegations in question surrounding the charges are suspicious bets placed on Rozier’s prop bets. In particular, his points, rebounds, and assists props.

Rozier’s friend, Deniro Laster, placed a total of $13,759 in bets, with the largest wager on under 5.5 rebounds for $2,700. He also shared the information with other bettors, with reportedly, a total of more than $250,000 in prop wagers placed.

This is interesting to note because the closing odds on Rozier’s prop were 3.5 rebounds, which suggests significant money pushed the number lower. Rozier exited the game after playing for 9:34 due to a reported foot injury and didn’t re-enter the game.

You can find Rozier’s final stat line for the game in question vs. the Pelicans below:

• Points: 5
• Rebounds: 4
• Assists: 2
• Field Goals: 2-4
• Three Pointers: 1-3

In review, all the wagers Laster reportedly placed won on the under (points, rebounds, assists). He would have also won on the under for Rozier’s three-pointer prop bet as well. The points prop didn’t even come close, with Rozier scoring only five points on a 21.5 total.

On $100 wagers, let’s check out the damage you could have done as one of Rozier’s friends on single wagers:

As you can see, the numbers are much better compared to team markets. Furthermore, you’re guaranteed to win here, while going for moneyline, spread, or totals could go wrong. But what would’ve happened if you did both?

Total Profits from Terry Rozier Insider Information

Now, let’s put everything together and evaluate the total profits that you could have made thanks to Rozier’s insider information. It’s possible you may have considered parlaying all these bets into one wager, so let’s dive into the huge payout potential there, too.

On seven single bets, including the main markets and Rozier prop bets, a $100 bettor would have cashed out $519.23. With all seven bets on one ticket, the return on a parlay at +4426 odds is particularly enticing. The final payout for this monster bet would have paid $4,425.58 on just a $100 stake!

While this sounds quite big, let’s just remember that Rozier was making $23 million per year at the time, or just over $280,000 per game. Honestly, this looks like a stupid mistake by the guard and not some clever conspiracy.

Either way, Rozier is now in trouble and his future as an NBA player and freedom are both under serious jeopardy.