NBA Enacts New Sports Betting Regulations for Teams

As sports betting continues to rise in popularity, the NBA is taking proactive measures by enacting several policies aimed at protecting the integrity of the game across its 30 teams. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, these policies include significant changes to injury reporting protocols.

Effective immediately, NBA teams are now required to resubmit their injury listings between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. local time on game days. Additionally, they must update any public injury reports every 15 minutes to ensure transparency for bettors and fans alike.

Beyond injury updates, the NBA is also pushing for alterations in the types of proposition bets available, especially those involving individual players. Reports suggest that the league is advocating for limits on the amounts bettors can wager and restrictions on the number of players eligible for prop bets, as well as reducing opportunities for “unders” in player bets. This initiative underscores the league's commitment to governing how sports betting operates in relation to professional basketball.

Furthermore, the NBA is reviewing existing policies related to tanking, as well as potential modifications to draft lottery rules and pick protections. A memorandum sent to teams highlights the NBA's stance: "Core to the NBA's position is that sports leagues should have control over the types of bets offered on their games." The league acknowledged that the current lack of control necessitates negotiations with sports betting operations, discussions with state gaming regulators, and possibly legislative action to implement these changes.

This strategic move comes in the wake of a significant incident where Jontay Porter was banned from the NBA in April 2024 for violating the league's gambling policies. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver emphasized the importance of maintaining competition integrity, stating, "There is nothing more important than protecting the integrity of NBA competition for our fans, our teams and everyone associated with our sport." He further noted that while legal sports betting promotes transparency, it also emphasizes the need for a robust regulatory framework concerning betting types on NBA games.

With these developments, the NBA is making clear efforts to implement necessary safeguards in a rapidly evolving betting landscape.