NBA agrees with Betting Partners to remove certain player prop bets

In the wake of the Jontay Porter scandal, which saw the first player in the history of the National Basketball League banned, the NBA has been firmly adjusting its gambling policies. A week ago, the association said that the use of social media and smartphones by coaches and players would be prohibited during live games.

No more bets targeting low-earning NBA players

Now, the NBA has introduced more changes to ensure that it has the integrity of the sports first and foremost. The association has agreed to a new deal with its Official Betting Partners, including BetMGM, DraftKings, and FanDuel, which will stop offering "under bets" on any player who is on a two-way or 10-day contract.

This precedent could motivate other sportsbooks to follow suit, although each bookmaker will have to decide for itself. All the same, the NBA has sent a strong signal that it will actively work to enhance the integrity of the sport and work with third-party partners in order to ensure that basketball is free of manipulation.

The news was confirmed by The Athletic, a respected media publication that covers the world of sports, for whom an NBA spokesperson said: "We are pleased that these actions have been taken to help protect the integrity of our games."

The move is understandable, however, as Commissioner Adam Silver has long realized that sports gambling will be an indelible part of the league overall and has worked to ensure that players are protected. Part of the solution has been understanding the problem.

Vulnerable players could be susceptible to colluding with nefarious parties to influence the outcome of games, much like Porter was. The bets specifically target players who are on lower contracts, which makes them more vulnerable to manipulation by those same parties.

Porter was the victim of a toxic environment

Porter himself was on a two-way contract and he is said to have had gambling debts, which made him all the more susceptible to influence. Porter was eventually found to have helped a large sports bettor know about his health ahead of a game against Sacramento.

The bettor placed an $80,000 parlay that fetched him a $1.1m payday but would also become Porter’s undoing, ending his career, and sending NBA’s self-regulation in overcharge.

Porter was also found guilty of placing bets on a number of other games while he was playing for the Raptors and other teams. All told the latest attempt by the NBA is meant to safeguard the integrity of the game.

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