NBA, sportsbooks agree to ban several types of player prop bets amid gambling concerns

The NBA and numerous major sportsbooks have reached an agreement to ban several types of player prop bets in order to safeguard the game's integrity and address gambling concerns. Reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania and David Purdum on Friday, the restrictions will cover a range of betting markets, such as parlays involving multiple statistics for a single player, "first of" bets, and under wagers on players expected to average fewer than 12 minutes per game.

This move comes in response to the growing scrutiny of player prop bets following recent gambling scandals.

The NBA has been collaborating with gaming companies to identify bets susceptible to manipulation, alongside the National Basketball Players Association, and has considered limiting certain prop bets to reduce these risks. The league's primary priority remains protecting the competition's integrity, while allowing fans to engage in regulated betting.

The NBA's concerns also include the harassment some players face from upset bettors. This agreement does not eliminate player prop betting entirely; instead, it narrows the available wagers, particularly those deemed more vulnerable to manipulation. The NBA aims to find a balance between the commercial benefits of sports betting and preserving fan confidence in the competition.