NBA, player's willing to support prop betting restrictions

The NBA and the players’ union are open to supporting new limits on proposition bets, citing concerns over the potential for performance manipulation following recent gambling scandals involving league players.

Proposition bets, or prop bets, allow wagers on player-specific outcomes such as points, rebounds, or assists. The practice has drawn greater scrutiny since sports betting was legalized seven years ago.

Former Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter was permanently banned from the NBA  last year and pleaded guilty in federal court to manipulating his performance to benefit a group of bettors. Other players, including veterans Terry Rozier and Malik Beasley, are currently under federal investigation for matters related to sports gambling. The NBA reviewed reports of unusual betting activity concerning Rozier but said it found no violation of league rules.

“Protecting the integrity of our game is paramount, and we believe reasonable limitations on certain prop bets should be given due consideration,” an NBA spokesperson said in a New York Times report. “Any approach should aim to reduce the risk of performance manipulation while ensuring that fans who wish to place prop bets can continue to do so via legal, regulated markets.”

The National Basketball Players Association has also raised concerns about the effect of prop bets on athletes, particularly with online and in-person abuse linked to betting outcomes.

“NBA players compete at the highest level with the utmost integrity and are concerned that prop bets have become an increasingly alarming source of player harassment, both online and in person,” an NBPA spokesperson said. “If tighter regulations can help minimize that abuse, then we support taking a closer look at them.”

Other sports organizations are also addressing integrity concerns. Major League Baseball recently placed two Cleveland Guardians pitchers on leave while it investigates gambling issues, prompting  Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to call on sportsbook operators to prohibit prop bets in the state.

In New York, a state senator introduced a bill that would allow season-long prop bets but limit in-game or single-game bets that may be “at risk of undue interference, insider trading of information, or other issues that could compromise the integrity and fairness of the sports wagering program.” The bill passed committee unanimously but has not yet advanced to a full legislative vote.

The NCAA has also moved to limit prop bets on individual athlete statistics. President Charlie Baker has been advocating against such wagers, with four states — Ohio, Vermont, Louisiana, and Maryland — agreeing to restrict them. The NCAA also signed a deal with Genius Sports to limit the sharing of real-time data with sportsbooks that allow prop bets.

The NBA maintains official betting partnerships with DraftKings and FanDuel.

“The transparency inherent with legalized sports betting has become a significant asset in protecting the integrity of athletic competition,” a DraftKings spokesperson said. “Unlike the pre-legalization era, when threats were far more difficult to detect, the regulated industry now provides increased oversight and accountability that helps to identify potentially suspicious activity.”