NBA Eyes Potential Sports Betting Changes, Injury Reporting Requirements

• According to an ESPN report, the NBA is pushing for changes to “problematic” prop bets and limitations on unders
• The NBA is likely to ask sportsbooks to limit the number of players offered by sportsbooks
• The NBA is also examining how injury reports are made available to the public

The NBA plans to ask sportsbooks to make several changes to reduce potential sports betting manipulation and limit under bets for the public in the wake of several high-profile sports betting scandals.

According to an ESPN report, the NBA recently sent a memo to all teams outlining potential changes to what sportsbooks can offer in the way of player prop bets, changes to the way injury reports are submitted, and address teams tanking to improve their draft position.

Additionally, the NBA plans to implement more gambling education for players, coaches, and institute new policies to protect players from sports betting harassment.

Potential NBA Sports Betting Changes Coming

In the memo, the NBA reported it plans to work with sportsbooks to institute new limitations on under bets for patrons, reduce the number of players sportsbooks offer for under bets, and eliminate bets that can be determined by a single play, also known as micro-betting.

Sportsbooks have shown to be open to such changes, as MLB recently worked with major sportsbook operators to cap bets on individual pitches at $200 as a way to discourage event manipulation.

This decision came two days after Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were charged in a sports betting and money laundering conspiracy, as the pitchers allegedly rigged pitches during the MLB season and shared information with corrupt sports bettors.

The NBA hopes to institute similar changes with major sportsbooks in the wake of several high-profile betting scandals. NBA guard Terry Rozier earlier this month pled not guilty in New York court for his alleged role in an illegal sports betting gambling ring. Rozier allegedly manipulated his own game performances and shared non-public information to help others win large amounts of money over at least two NBA seasons.

During the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 NBA seasons, Rozier and several defendants allegedly used non-public information and plans from NBA players to leave games early to capitalize on a number of bets placed through online and retail sportsbooks.

The sports betting scandal, dubbed “Operation Nothing But Net” by the FBI, involved similar individuals who also orchestrated the sports betting scheme involving former Raptors center Jontay Porter. Porter pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in manipulating his performance outcomes and is awaiting sentencing. He has also been permanently banned from the NBA.

Former NBA coach and Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups also pled not guilty in late November in a federal Brooklyn courthouse for his alleged role in rigged poker games. Billups has been charged with counts of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy for his alleged role in rigged poker games. The games involved several New York Italian mafia families using various technological means to rig games and scam million of dollars from players.

Changes to Injury Reporting

According to ESPN, the NBA is also eyeing potential changes to the way it reports injuries to the public. Currently, the NBA requires teams to submit injury reports on game day between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. local time and then update the injury reports every hour on NBA.com.

The NBA is now requiring teams to update the injury reports every 15 minutes on NBA.com.

When the new requirement goes into effect for teams has not been revealed.

Additionally, the NBA is considering modifying rules regarding draft pick protection and the draft lottery to reduce teams tanking late in the season.