Charlotte Hornets Cancel ‘Sports Betting Night’ Amid Federal Probe into Former Player Terry Rozier

A Cloud Over the Event

The primary driver behind the cancellation is the ongoing federal investigation into Terry Rozier. The probe is examining allegations that Rozier, who played for the Hornets from 2019 to 2024, may have manipulated his own on-court performance to benefit bettors during his time with the team.

The investigation reportedly centers on a March 2023 game against the New Orleans Pelicans, in which Rozier played less than ten minutes before exiting with a foot injury. Prior to that game, a bettor placed a significant wager of nearly $14,000 on the “under” for Rozier’s individual stats, a bet that was ultimately successful.

While Rozier has not been charged with any crime or disciplined by the NBA, he remains under active federal investigation. The probe is reportedly linked to the same investigation that led to the lifetime ban of former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter, who was found to have bet on games and shared injury information with bettors.

A “Tone-Deaf” Promotion

The decision to schedule a “Sports Betting Night” for the specific game in which Rozier would be returning to Charlotte as a member of the Miami Heat has been widely seen as a significant oversight by the Hornets organization. To make matters even more awkward, the game is also scheduled to take place on Rozier’s 32nd birthday.

While a Hornets spokesperson did not explicitly cite the Rozier investigation as the reason for the cancellation, simply stating that the promotion “is no longer happening on that day,” the timing and context make the connection clear.

The now-canceled event was to be sponsored by the UK-based sportsbook bet365. The Hornets have previously hosted a similar “Sports Betting Night” without incident, but the unique circumstances of this particular game made its continuation untenable.