The NBA is responding to recent allegations of current and former players tied to illegal gambling schemes by proposing and implementing policy changes for the entire league.
According to ESPN, the NBA reportedly sent a memo to all 30 NBA franchises, proposing and implementing changes to the league’s injury reporting process, player prop markets and “tanking” rules, which refers to teams deliberately losing games for a chance at higher draft picks. The NBA seeks changes to its gambling policy after the arrests of Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former Cleveland Cavaliers guard Damon Jones. The NBA personnel were arrested after investigations into alleged illegal sports betting and the operation of Mafia-backed, rigged poker games.
Billups, a five-time NBA All-Star, was arrested for his supposed involvement in the illegal poker operation allegedly backed by the Italian Mafia, while Rozier allegedly provided insider information to co-conspirators for gambling-related purposes. Rozier also allegedly manipulated his own gameplay. Jones was arrested for his alleged ties to both schemes.
Billups, Rozier and Jones were among more than 30 people arrested during the probes. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty in court to the charges levied against them.
NBA player prop markets could look different
The NBA is taking a note from MLB by proposing changes to its policy related to player prop and micro-betting markets. In the memo, the NBA is proposing bet amount limits on “under” player prop markets and a limit on the number of players with available “under” markets. The NBA is also considering limiting micro-betting markets tied to a single play.
The allegations against Rozier include providing insider information to co-conspirators for them to place wagers on his “under” markets as he planned to exit games early for injury.
“It’s too easy to manipulate something which seems otherwise small and inconsequential to the overall score,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on The Pat McAfee Show in October. “There’s nothing more important than the integrity of the competition.”
The recommendation follows MLB working with its licensed operator partners to implement a $200 bet limit on pitch-level markets in the U.S. The decision was made after Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were charged with wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery and money laundering conspiracy over allegations that they rigged pitches during games and received kickbacks. The alleged rigged pitches from Clase and Ortiz were based on speed and location.
All allegations against Clase and Ortiz are currently unproven. Three of the charges faced by both Clase and Ortiz carry maximum sentences of up to 20 years in prison.
NBA to collaborate with key stakeholders in gaming
The NBA shared that it would need to work with regulators and licensed operators to implement changes related to the betting markets offered for league games. The NBA has a long-standing relationship with DraftKings and FanDuel, making the sportsbooks official partners of the league in 2021. The NBA also has partnerships with BetMGM and Caesars.
“Core to the NBA’s position is that sports leagues should have control over the types of bets offered on their games,” reads the memo. “Because leagues currently do not have such control, any changes will need to be pursued via negotiation with sports betting operators, requests to state gaming regulators, legislative action, or some combination of these avenues.”
Some sportsbooks have been proactive in combating potential NBA player prop issues by not offering “under” markets for players who are on two-way or 10-day contracts. In 2024, former two-way guard Jontay Porter received a lifetime NBA ban for gambling-related infractions. Porter provided insider information to third parties for gambling purposes.
Major injury reporting change for the NBA
The NBA is implementing a change to its injury reporting news by “requiring teams to submit an injury report on game days between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. (though not on the second night of back-to-back games).” It is also implementing the update of public injury reports every 15 minutes on NBA.com, compared to a previous requirement of every hour.
The NBA is also planning to enhance its educational resources for gambling and adjust its draft pick protection rules to combat tanking. The league and its teams will continue to review the proposed policy changes included in its latest memo to teams. The basketball league has not declared an implementation date for any of the modifications.
