NBA Expands Review of High-Risk Player Proposition Bets
The National Basketball Association (NBA) will continue to review specific wager types most prone to manipulation, focusing on appropriate staking limits for these bets. This action follows recent, high-profile integrity concerns within the league. The NBA is also working closely with its sports betting partners to evaluate current offerings constantly. The league’s efforts aim to safeguard the competition’s integrity against schemes focused on individual player outcomes, known as proposition bets.
Targeting Vulnerable Wager Mechanics
The league previously identified fouls, turnovers, and missed free throws as easily manipulated outcomes. The NBA had already requested that its betting partners cease offering these specific types of wagers. Individual player proposition bets, such as total points or rebounds, now face increased scrutiny due to their heightened vulnerability.
The need for this vigilance stems directly from major allegations and federal investigations concerning wagering integrity. These cases involved specific schemes centered on individual player prop bets.
The NBA has already implemented a restriction for the 2024–25 season in direct response to a major betting scandal. Before the season, the league asked bookmakers not to offer “under” bets on the statistics of players holding either two-way or 10-day contracts. These players are often rostered at the end of the rotation, making their performance data more easily controlled.
Roster Status and Integrity Concerns
A significant incident involving former Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter highlighted the risk posed by specific player contracts. Porter, who played on a two-way contract, received a lifetime ban from the league for his involvement in a betting scheme.
He admitted to intentionally limiting his performance in two 2023–24 season games. His actions were meant to ensure that bettors who placed “under” wagers on his statistics would win. The direct connection between Porter’s two-way contract status and the scheme led to the new betting restriction targeting players on similar deals.
A federal investigation into veteran NBA player Terrence Rozier also pushed the league to intensify its focus on player prop bets. Authorities accused Rozier of conspiring with gamblers in a scheme centered on his own statistical props, like points or rebounds.
Court filings alleged that Rozier tipped off a childhood friend about his plan to leave a March 2023 game early. This information was reportedly sold to bettors for approximately . Following the tip, bookmakers recorded a large volume of “under” wagers placed on Rozier’s statistics for that game.
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