10/16/2026 11:05:00
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10/16 11:03 CDT Some wagers, certain parlays no longer can be offered to
bettors, NBA tells sportsbooks
Some wagers, certain parlays no longer can be offered to bettors, NBA tells
sportsbooks
By TIM REYNOLDS
AP Basketball Writer
The NBA told sportsbooks on Friday that they will not be permitted to offer
certain types of wagering this season, including which players record the first
stat of a game, the outcome of the opening tip and taking the "under" involving
players not expected to play more than a few minutes.
Additionally, the league told its teams that all players, coaches and training
staffs will be required to attend "live, in-person training on the league's
sports betting rules" starting this season. Copies of the memos sent to
sportsbooks and teams were obtained by The Associated Press.
ESPN first reported on the league's new policies.
The league cited examples of now-banned "first-of" markets such as those
related to players "scoring the first basket, 3-pointer, rebound, assist,
steal, or block, as well as wagers on if a player will miss "their first shot
attempt, next shot attempt, or any attempt within a specified amount or period
of game time."
Also banned: the ability for bettors to have multiple "under" wagers involving
a player as part of a parlay.
The new rules, which will be applied to WNBA games starting in 2027 as well,
come after the NBA had already restricted some other types of prop bets,
including certain offerings involving players on 10-day or two-way contracts,
wagers on turnovers or fouls, and bets on missed free throws.
Friday's memos came nearly one full year after the league was rocked by betting
scandals, ones that led to the arrests of now-former Portland coach Chauncey
Billups, now-former Miami guard Terry Rozier and former NBA guard Damon Jones
for their alleged involvement in sprawling gambling operations that authorities
said leaked inside information about NBA players and rigged poker games backed
by Mafia families.
Rozier was arrested because federal officials alleged he conspired with
associates to help them win bets based on his statistical performance in a
March 2023 game when he played for the Charlotte Hornets. The charges are
similar to what former Toronto player Jontay Porter faced before he was banned
from the league by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in 2024.
The league also told its teams Friday that a new, AI-based data monitoring
platform has been developed "that is designed to detect and investigate unusual
betting activity involving NBA games or events" by analyzing injury reports,
social media and wagering patterns. Similar technology has been in use by the
NBA and sportsbooks for some time.
Further, the league --- after countless complaints by players and coaches ---
said it has upgraded the protections that NBA teams will have "from harassment
or threats by sports bettors." Players will now be able to opt-in to programs
that can identify and delete harassment or threats on social media, and the
league is also updating its fan code of conduct to further underscore how
betting-related harassment is prohibited.
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See AP's full NBA coverage here
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