The NBA and its players union have voiced support for additional restrictions on prop betting following a series of gambling-related scandals.
The NBA and its players union have voiced support for additional restrictions on prop betting following a series of gambling-related scandals that have rocked professional basketball.
Representatives for both the league and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) said they would back further limitations on the types of prop bets that sportsbooks can accept for NBA games, according to a report in The Athletic.
The move comes after former Toronto Raptors centre Jontay Porter was banned from the league and pleaded guilty to a felony in federal court for manipulating his performance to help bettors win prop bets.
Prop betting allows bettors to wager on individual player statistics such as points totals and other personal performance metrics during games.
The practice has become somewhat controversial since sports betting was legalised in the United States seven years ago, with some players having suffered abuse from bettors after losing wagers.
An NBA spokesperson told the media outlet: “Protecting the integrity of our game is paramount, and we believe reasonable limitations on certain prop bets should be given due consideration.
“Any approach should aim to reduce the risk of performance manipulation while ensuring that fans who wish to place prop bets can continue to do so via legal, regulated markets.”
NBA player harassment concerns highlighted
The players union cited harassment concerns as a key driver behind its support for tighter regulations.
An NBPA spokesperson added to the media outlet: “NBA players compete at the highest level with the utmost integrity and are concerned that prop bets have become an increasingly alarming source of player harassment, both online and in person.
“If tighter regulations can help minimise that abuse, then we support taking a closer look at them.”
Players Terry Rozier and Malik Beasley remain under federal investigation related to gambling, though the NBA found no rule violations following its own probe into unusual betting activity around Rozier.