NBA and its Union: More restrictions on prop bets for integrity and players

NBA Seeks to Limit Betting to Protect Game Integrity

The NBA, along with the players’ association, has expressed its support for the implementation of greater restrictions on certain types of bets. This measure seeks to reduce the risk of manipulation and protect athletes from harassment by bettors.

Protecting the integrity of our game is paramount, and we believe due consideration should be given to reasonable limitations on certain prop bets.
NBA Spokesperson

The league emphasizes that any approach must decrease the risk of performance manipulation, while ensuring that fans can continue to participate in prop bets through legal and regulated markets. This decision comes after a federal investigation involving three NBA players. Jontay Porter, former Toronto Raptors player, was suspended from the league in April 2024 for manipulating his performance in two games. Porter pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges in July 2024, admitting to leaving two games during the 2023-24 season to benefit associates who bet against his statistics. In response, the NBA requested its sports betting partners to stop allowing bets against players with two-way contracts, as was the case with Porter at the time. The league now considers greater limitations on prop bets necessary. In addition to Porter, Terry Rozier and Malik Beasley are being investigated as part of the same federal inquiry. So far, neither of them has been charged with any crime. The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) considers Porter’s case an isolated incident and has found no evidence of other manipulations in the league. However, the NBPA is concerned about the harassment that athletes suffer from disgruntled bettors.

Players are concerned that prop bets have become an increasingly alarming source of harassment, both online and in person.
NBPA Spokesperson

The NBPA supports the review of stricter regulations that may minimize this abuse. Regarding state actions, Ohio and New Jersey have taken steps to ban certain prop bets. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine requested a ban on so-called micro-bets, which are bets on specific events during games, after two Cleveland Guardians pitchers were suspended amid a Major League Baseball investigation into suspicious betting activity. MLB is discussing the topic of micro-betting. In New Jersey, Assemblyman Dan Hutchison introduced a bill to eliminate micro-betting in the state’s sportsbooks.