NBL examines allegations of illegal betting

The National Basketball League (NBL) has launched an investigation into allegations of illegal betting on the results of several games of the season.

NBL President and Executive Director of Basketball New Zealand Iain Potter confirmed Sunday at the Herald On several occasions in recent months, the NBL has asked the TAB to investigate alleged suspicious bets in matches of the NBL.

The last game that Potter confirmed to the league will be a clash last Friday between the Taranaki Mountain Airs and Auckland Supercity Rangers in New Plymouth

The Sunday Herald learned from several sources that the arrival at the game raised eyebrows among spectators and officials.

Just two seconds from the clock, a shot from Les Airs reduced the Rangers' lead to nine points – 94-85. While teams traditionally ran past the allotted time while there was little time left, the Rangers took a timeout and, on the resulting rebound play, hit a triple on the buzzer to gain 12 points. .

Among the popular options available to bet on the TAB, a team wins with 11 points or more.

The Rangers' final shot to make a 12-point win sparked party scenes among Rangers players, according to Mountain Airs coach Trent Adam

"I found [it] unusual to call a timeout in this game situation. They then performed a play and hit a three-point shot on the buzzer that summoned a lot of Adam said:

The coach Rangers, Jeff Green, vehemently denied any wrongdoing by his team

We know we are not allowed to bet on our league, "he said. 002] "We all know the situation, the whole team, everybody knows the rules, you're caught, you take the consequences."

According to Green, the waiting time has been called for give the last shot to a player who was leaving.

"We wanted to give him the chance to go upstairs." [19659002] Green was not aware of any investigation by the NBL.

"I have no worries to have.You train accordingly for some of these things and I do not apologize for calling this delay."

Potter says that The NBL's investigation into the allegations around the game will include the TAB looking into the game to determine if anything abnormal has occurred. ]

NBL President and CEO of BBNZ Iain Potter

"They [TAB] are going to see s & # 39; there is anything in this activity "If we said" yes, we think there is something ", we should look at all the evidence that we could gather and then make a decision to see if we would do it.

Potter also revealed that it was not the first game this season as the organization was reviewing allegations of illegal betting.

"I get reports from people periodically during the season about activities that can or"

"Where there is suspicion, we watched – and we asked the TAB to look at two or three times this year – the betting patterns.

Betting Fixing and Basketball New Zealand Betting Policy, a basketball player playing a game commits an offense if he bet anything of value in connection with a game or an event organized by or under the auspices of BBNZ, or solicit or accept anything of value to or from any person with the intention of influencing the efforts of any player in a game.

The TAB is a major sponsor of the NBL, offering live betting on each game and is a live streaming partner for

These feeds broadcast ads for the TAB during the game, while chances are often mentioned throughout l & # 39; show.

The NBL's official website also offers TAB commercials, including the promotion of a signing bonus. open an account with the TAB get an extra $ 20. For each person who signs up, BBNZ earns $ 10 and the NBL team closest to where that person is based also receives $ 10

The TAB will not comment on the details of any existing survey.

"If a sports organization asks for information about the betting activities on a match or particular matches, we are obliged to investigate and transmit any information to that sports organization," said a spokesman. We are not able to comment further, according to the terms of our agreement. "

This is not the first time the NBL has received a betting shadow. In previous seasons, the NBL has asked at the TAB to investigate allegations that players would bet on their teams to win.