The NBA and a bunch of major sportsbooks just agreed to ditch certain player prop bets to help protect the integrity of the game and ease sports betting concerns.
ESPN’s Shams Charania and David Purdum reported Friday morning that the new restrictions will cover several betting markets, including parlays involving the under on multiple statistics for the same player, “first of” bets and under wagers on players expected to average fewer than 12 minutes per game.
The agreement represents another step in the NBA’s efforts to limit wagers that could be vulnerable to manipulation, particularly as recent gambling scandals have brought player prop bets under increased scrutiny.
Banned “first of” bets include picks on who wins the opening tip or whether a specific player gets the first shot, rebound, assist or steal.
These new rules build on measures put in place last season — like banning bets on 10-day or two-way contract players, plus restrictions on props for turnovers, fouls and missed free throws.
Why the NBA is targeting player prop bets
Player prop bets allow bettors to wager on individual performances rather than simply picking a winner or predicting a game’s final score. You can bet on whether a player will score more or fewer points than a sportsbook’s projected total, for example, or how many rebounds or assists that player will record. For fans, it’s one of the easier bets you can hit.
These markets have become a major part of the sports betting experience, offering fans more ways to engage with games. Same-game parlays, which combine multiple wagers into one bet, have also helped make player props a prominent feature of sportsbook offerings.
But the same bets create challenges for leagues trying to protect competitive integrity.
Unlike a game’s final outcome, individual statistics can sometimes be influenced by a single decision, a brief appearance or a player’s knowledge of an injury. That makes certain wagers particularly sensitive to inside information or intentional manipulation.
The NBA’s latest restrictions follow a series of gambling-related investigations that have raised questions about how easily player-specific betting markets can be exploited.
In October 2025, federal prosecutors charged Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former NBA player and coach Damon Jones in connection with alleged gambling schemes. Rozier was accused of providing information that he planned to leave a game early, allowing associates to place bets on his statistical performance. Jones was accused of sharing confidential information about players and teams.
The allegations against Rozier centered on a March 2023 game involving the Charlotte Hornets, when bettors allegedly wagered on his statistical unders. Prosecutors alleged that more than $200,000 in wagers were placed based on information that Rozier planned to exit early.
Rozier has faced criminal charges, and the allegations are not proof of guilt. The case nevertheless illustrated the potential risks associated with bets that depend on a single player’s performance. The Justice Department detailed the allegations in its announcement.
A broader push to protect the game
The NBA has been working with major gaming companies to identify wagers that could be susceptible to manipulation. The league and the National Basketball Players Association have also supported considering reasonable limits on certain prop bets to reduce those risks while preserving legal betting options for fans.
In an August 2025 statement reported by ESPN, the league emphasized that protecting the integrity of the game remains its priority, while acknowledging that fans should still be able to participate in regulated sports betting.
The league’s concerns extend beyond potential manipulation. Players have also faced harassment from bettors upset about losing wagers, creating another challenge as gambling becomes more integrated into the sports viewing experience.
Charles Tillman, who created the Peanut Punch and former FBI agent, will train NBA teams on the new betting rules, per @MikeVorkunovpic.twitter.com/1trdcbQbfs
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) October 16, 2026
And this isn’t just an NBA thing — it’s hitting every sports league and college level out there.
A massive majority of MLB players have faced harassment from angry bettors after missing statistical targets, per a survey by The Athletic.
According to NCAA polling, approximately one-third of Division I men’s basketball athletes reported suffering online, verbal or physical mistreatment connected to sports gambling, and a quarter endured direct in-person hostility.
The expansion of legal sports betting has made player props increasingly visible through broadcasts, sportsbook advertising and real-time betting promotions. That visibility has created new opportunities for leagues and gambling operators to reach fans, but it has also increased scrutiny of the relationship between athletes and betting markets.
The latest agreement does not eliminate player prop betting altogether. Instead, it narrows the range of available wagers, particularly those the NBA and sportsbooks view as more vulnerable to outside influence.
For the league, the challenge is finding a balance between maintaining the commercial benefits of sports betting and ensuring that gambling does not undermine confidence in the competition itself.
With additional restrictions now reportedly agreed upon, the NBA is continuing to take a more cautious approach to betting markets that place individual players’ actions at the center of a wager.