NBA tightens Betting Safeguards Amid Federal Scrutiny

The National Basketball Association has introduced stricter betting-related policies across all 30 teams amid an expanding federal gambling investigation. The move underscores the league’s efforts to protect competitive integrity as sports betting markets continue to grow in scale and complexity.

According to reports from ESPN, the NBA has updated its internal guidance to include tighter injury reporting requirements. Teams must now resubmit injury reports on game days within a specific midday window and update public listings every 15 minutes. The league believes these changes will reduce opportunities for bettors to exploit delayed or non-public information.

Beyond team-level controls, the NBA is also urging sportsbook operators to adjust how player prop bets are offered. The league has recommended limiting eligible player pools, lowering maximum wager sizes, restricting certain “under” bets, and removing bet types linked to single-play actions. Regulators and leagues have increasingly flagged player props as a higher-risk betting market due to their susceptibility to manipulation.

The policy shift follows a series of high-profile arrests connected to the federal probe, which alleges that insider information was shared with bettors for financial gain. Several defendants have pleaded not guilty, and court proceedings remain ongoing. In response, the NBA issued league-wide reminders on gambling laws and placed implicated individuals on leave pending further review.

The latest developments come after a previous lifetime ban issued by the NBA for betting-related misconduct, reinforcing the league’s zero-tolerance stance. Commissioner Adam Silver has described the allegations as deeply troubling, reiterating that integrity is non-negotiable. As scrutiny intensifies, the NBA’s actions may influence how other professional leagues approach betting oversight in regulated markets worldwide.