DISGRACED former referee Tim Donaghy started betting on NBA games in 2003, long before he began tipping off high-stakes gamblers with inside information and recommending which teams to bet on — with a reward of US$5,000 if his picks hit.

The stunning allegations emerged Wednesday as Donaghy pleaded guilty to two felony charges in a scandal that rocked the league and tarnished the integrity of the sport.

“By having this nonpublic information, I was in a unique position to predict the outcome of NBA games,” Donaghy, standing ramrod-straight with his hands clasped in front of him, told the judge in a Brooklyn courtroom.

Donaghy, who was released on US$250,000 bond, faces a maximum of 25 years in prison when he is sentenced Nov. 9 for conspiracy to engage in wire fraud and transmitting betting information through interstate commerce. He also must pay a US$500,000 fine and at least US$30,000 in restitution to the government.

Still, many questions remain. Authorities did not spell out specific games that Donaghy officiated and placed bets on, nor would they say if he made calls during the game to help a team cover the spread.

The plea had been widely expected in recent weeks, but court documents released Wednesday revealed new details about the depth of the scandal.

Court papers say the 40-year-old Donaghy began placing bets on NBA games in 2003. Starting last December, he began giving gambling associates sensitive information, including which crews would officiate games and how the various officials and players interacted.

(SD-Agencies)