NBA Restricts Certain Bets Amid Gambling Scandals

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is enacting new restrictions on specific types of sports bets this season, a move prompted by recent high-profile gambling scandals involving league players. These changes aim to curb problematic betting practices while attempting to prevent a shift of activity into illegal markets.

In a memo distributed to its sportsbook partners on Friday, the NBA announced it would ban parlays that combine 'under' wagers on multiple statistics for the same player. The league is also prohibiting bets on the opening tip, missed shots, and 'under' wagers for players projected to play fewer than 12 minutes. Furthermore, sportsbooks will be forbidden from offering alternate 'under' lines that provide larger potential payouts to bettors.

These new regulations directly impact authorized partners such as DraftKings and FanDuel, which collectively represent over 99 percent of the legal U.S. sports betting market. "There's a balance between removing problematic bet types and not moving activity into the illegal market," stated NBA Executive Vice President Scott Kaufman-Ross.

The policy adjustments follow federal gambling investigations that have centered on former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier. Porter has reportedly admitted to intentionally exiting games early to influence the outcome of bets. Prosecutors allege a similar scheme targeted Rozier in March 2023, when he left a game after playing only nine minutes; Rozier has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

In addition to restricting bet menus, the NBA is enhancing its artificial intelligence (AI) betting monitoring system and establishing a text hotline for reporting threats related to gambling. The league has also appointed former NFL player and retired FBI special agent Charles Tillman to lead mandatory in-person training sessions for players on betting rules and compliance.