The NBA is tightening the reins on sports betting, rolling out a new wave of policies aimed at protecting the integrity of the game. According to league sources, these changes are designed to increase transparency around injury reporting and limit the potential for insider-driven betting advantages - a growing concern in the age of legalized gambling.
New Injury Reporting Protocols: Real-Time Accountability
One of the most immediate changes impacts how teams report injuries. Under the new rules, franchises are now required to resubmit their injury reports between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. local time on game days.
That’s not just a clerical adjustment - it’s a step toward real-time accountability. Teams will also need to update public injury reports every 15 minutes, ensuring that the betting public and fans alike are working with the most accurate and timely information available.
This move is significant. In an era where prop bets hinge on a player’s availability - and where even a hint of inside info can swing the odds - the NBA is clearly signaling that vague or outdated injury reports won’t fly anymore.
Cracking Down on Prop Bets: Protecting the Game Within the Game
The league is also turning its attention to prop bets, which have exploded in popularity. These are wagers on individual in-game outcomes - like how many points a player scores or whether they’ll grab a certain number of rebounds. While fun for fans, prop bets also open the door to manipulation, especially when insider information is involved.
To combat that, the NBA is reportedly urging gambling companies to implement several restrictions, including:
- Limits on maximum bet amounts
- Restrictions on “unders” - bets that a player will fall short of a statistical benchmark
- Narrowing the pool of players available for prop bets
- Eliminating bets based on single-play outcomes, which are easier to manipulate and harder to monitor
This is a clear effort to reduce the risk of exploitation, especially in cases where someone with inside knowledge - like a player’s injury status or reduced minutes - could tip the scales unfairly.
Tanking Under the Microscope: Draft Reform on the Table
The NBA is also launching a review of its policies around tanking - the controversial practice of intentionally losing games to improve Draft Lottery odds. While the league has taken steps in recent years to discourage tanking, the issue hasn’t gone away. Now, the NBA is considering further changes that could include:
- Revisions to Draft pick protections
- Tweaks to the Draft Lottery format
- Other structural changes aimed at removing the incentive to lose
This isn’t just about optics. Tanking affects competitive balance, fan trust, and - in the context of sports betting - the legitimacy of outcomes.
Trail Blazers Tied to Betting Scandal: A Cautionary Tale
The Portland Trail Blazers are at the center of a high-profile sports betting investigation that’s added urgency to the NBA’s policy overhaul. Head coach Chauncey Billups was suspended following his late October arrest in connection with an alleged organized crime-run poker operation. While not named directly, Billups was reportedly the individual who passed along non-public injury information ahead of a 2023 Blazers game - information that was allegedly used to place “inside” bets.
That game is now part of a sweeping federal indictment involving over 30 individuals, including current and former NBA players. Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former Cavaliers player and assistant coach Damon Jones were also arrested as part of the FBI’s probe into illegal sports betting and organized crime involvement.
The implications are serious. If proven true, this kind of activity goes beyond a breach of league rules - it strikes at the heart of competitive integrity. For a league that’s embraced sports betting as a revenue stream and fan engagement tool, this is a wake-up call.
Blazers and the Tanking Trend
Beyond the betting allegations, the Trail Blazers have also drawn scrutiny for their approach to roster management in recent years. Between 2021 and 2024, Portland appeared to lean heavily into tanking tactics - frequently placing key players on the injury list late in the season, often with vague or lingering ailments.
The result? A string of losses that conveniently boosted their Draft Lottery odds.
It’s a strategy that’s been used by several teams across the league, but it’s one the NBA is now signaling it wants to curb. With new policies on the table, the days of strategic losing may be numbered.
The Bottom Line
The NBA is making it clear: the intersection of sports betting and basketball needs tighter guardrails. From cracking down on injury report loopholes to reining in risky prop bets and rethinking how tanking is incentivized, the league is taking a proactive stance.
This isn’t just about protecting the product on the floor - it’s about ensuring that every bet placed, every game played, and every Draft pick earned is grounded in fairness and transparency. As the league continues to navigate the growing influence of gambling, these policy shifts could mark a pivotal moment in how the NBA safeguards its future.