NBA Sets New Rules On Parlays, Player Props for Sportsbooks

The NBA hopes to cut down on illegal gambling schemes this season.

According to ESPN, the league has told its sportsbook partners they can no longer offer parlays that combine multiple unders on the same player’s stats, and it has limited bets involving certain players and opening tip-offs. Platforms also can no longer offer prop bets on players expected to play fewer than 12 minutes.

The upcoming NBA season tips off on October 20, giving sportsbooks time to adjust their offerings.

NBA Clamps Down On “Under” Bets

One of the NBA’s new policy focuses is the dangers of “under” bets. These wagers involve betting that an athlete will underperform based on sportsbook-set stats. 

While “unders” are popular with bettors, they are also targeted by illegal betting schemes. Unlike other wagers, athletes can easily manipulate their play to ensure they don’t meet or exceed the stats set by sportsbooks. This was used in several scandals involving NBA players, including former star Terry Rozier.

By limiting how much bettors can win on this wager type, the league hopes to deter players from participating in these schemes going forward.

Minutes Limit Could Be Significant

Another key change in the NBA’s betting policy restricts “under” bets on players who commonly play fewer than 12 minutes. 

NBA players stuck on the bench, seeing limited action throughout the season, often make far less money than starters. This can make those players more susceptible to high-value offers to “fix” their stats for a given night. Because they have less time and familiarity with fans, it can be much harder to detect their scandals.

One of the first major sports betting scandals involved former NBA player Jontay Porter. He played a small role during his two seasons in the league, but he manipulated his stats to ensure “under” bets on him always hit. He averaged 11.2 minutes per game in his career, which is just under the NBA’s new 12-minute threshold. 

What About Prediction Markets?

The NBA has been aggressive in its approach to gambling over the last month. It recently partnered with the WNBA and the National Council on Problem Gambling to launch a new responsible-gambling campaign aimed at young adults. It followed up with new sportsbook policies, giving hope to many who feared for the league's integrity.

Unfortunately, the NBA’s efforts have stopped short of addressing prediction markets. The league still lacks an official prediction partner but has been considering adding one. Until then, operators can continue to offer the kind of bets now banned for sportsbooks. 

As a result, players still have a way to engage in scandals involving their stats, and particularly “under” bets.