Sports · Basketball · 2 hrs ago
NBA restricts player prop parlays and other bets after gambling scandals
The NBA is restricting several types of bets offered by its sportsbook partners this season.
Bettors can no longer combine unders on the same player’s statistics in a parlay, or bet on opening-tip winners, specific missed shots, and unders for players expected to play fewer than 12 minutes.
These bets can be vulnerable to manipulation because a player may influence their own statistics or leave a game early.
The rules follow cases involving former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter, who admitted leaving games early to benefit bettors, and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, who has pleaded not guilty to charges tied to an alleged scheme.
In Porter’s case, prosecutors cited an $80,000 bet with a potential $1.1 million payout on unders across six statistics.
The restrictions cover partners such as DraftKings and FanDuel, which account for more than 99% of the US betting market, and the league is also expanding AI monitoring, adding a hotline for threats, and requiring in-person player training.
The NBA has told authorized sportsbook partners to prohibit several bet types and restrict parlays it considers vulnerable to manipulation.
The ban includes parlays combining under bets on the same player’s statistics, bets on the opening tip and specific missed shots.
It also covers under bets on players expected to play fewer than 12 minutes and alternate under lines with larger payouts.
The league’s partner sportsbooks account for more than 99% of the U.S. betting market, according to the NBA.
The measures follow gambling investigations involving former NBA players Jontay Porter and Terry Rozier.
- Who
- The NBA and its authorized sportsbook partners, including DraftKings and FanDuel.
- What
- The NBA is restricting parlays and other bet types it says could be vulnerable to manipulation.
- When
- The restrictions apply this season; the league sent its memo to sportsbook partners on Friday.
- Where
- The United States’ legal betting market, through the NBA’s authorized sportsbook partners.
- Why
- The league cited concerns about problematic bets and recent gambling scandals involving NBA players.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Jontay Porter intentionally left games early to benefit bettors while with the Toronto Raptors, he later admitted in court.
Prosecutors allege bettors used under parlays involving Terry Rozier’s statistics in a game after which he left early.
A bettor placed an $80,000 parlay on six of Porter’s under statistics; prosecutors said it could pay about $1.1 million.
The NBA distributed a memo directing sportsbook partners to restrict specified bets and parlays.
- Restricted parlay
- Under bets on the same player’s statistics cannot be combined in parlays.
- Other prohibited bets
- Opening-tip outcomes, specific missed shots and unders on players expected to play fewer than 12 minutes.
- Alternate lines
- Sportsbooks are barred from offering alternate under lines with larger payouts.
- Market coverage
- NBA partner sportsbooks account for over 99% of the U.S. betting market.
- Porter parlay
- $80,000 wager on six unders, with a potential payout of approximately $1.1 million.
4 sources
NBA strikes deal with sportsbooks to restrict parlay bets at the center of league's mafia-linked gambling scandal
NBA instructs sportsbook partners to ban certain bets ripe for manipulation, per report
NBA directs betting platforms to halt specific wagers and limit parlays
NBA tells sportsbooks to prohibit certain bets, restrict parlays
What people are saying
There's a balance between ensuring that we are removing problematic bet types but also ensuring that we don't just move activity into the illegal market,
There's a balance between removing problematic bet types and not moving activity into the illegal market,
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The NBA and prominent sportsbooks have agreed to ban multiple types of bets, per me and @DavidPurdum, such as: - Parlay bets involving the under on the same player's statistics - "First of" market; examples: winner of opening tip, an individual's specific shot, rebound, assist,
The NBA has held active communication with major gaming companies on tightening wagers in the aftermath of recent betting scandals. The new list of prohibited bets join restrictions from prior seasons -- including bets on 10-day or two-way contract players, player props on