NBA, players’ union endorse tighter limits on select prop wagers
nba-union-endorses-tighter-prop-bet-limits
The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association said this week they favor additional restrictions on certain player-specific wagers, aiming to discourage game manipulation and curb harassment of athletes by bettors.
“Protecting the integrity of our game is paramount, and we believe reasonable limitations on certain prop bets should be given due consideration,” an NBA spokesperson told ESPN on Aug. 15, 2025. “Any approach should reduce the risk of performance manipulation while allowing fans to place prop bets in legal, regulated markets.”
Background: Porter case sparks concern
Former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter was banned for life in April 2024 after commissioner Adam Silver ruled he deliberately altered his performance in two games. Porter pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges three months later, admitting he removed himself from contests during the 2023-24 season so associates who wagered on his statistical unders would profit.
Following Porter’s ban, the league asked partner sportsbooks to bar wagers on the “under” for players on two-way contracts. League officials now say broader limits may be necessary.
NBPA cites rising athlete abuse
The union considers the Porter incident an anomaly but says players are increasingly targeted by upset gamblers. “Players are concerned that prop bets have become an increasingly alarming source of player harassment, both online and in person,” an NBPA spokesperson said. “If tighter regulations can help minimize that abuse, then we support taking a closer look at them.”
Federal inquiry touches three players
Porter is one of three NBA players, alongside Terry Rozier and Malik Beasley, linked to an ongoing federal gambling investigation. Neither Rozier nor Beasley has been charged.
States move against micro-betting
Ohio and New Jersey have already acted. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine called for a ban on “microbets” — wagers on individual, in-game events — after two Cleveland Guardians pitchers were sidelined during a Major League Baseball probe into suspicious bets on specific pitches in June. DeWine has asked professional leagues and their unions to support the effort.
In New Jersey, Assembly member Dan Hutchison introduced a bill to outlaw microbets at state sportsbooks. “I just think it’s going too far,” Hutchison told ESPN, warning of potential harm to youth and sport integrity.
Major League Baseball is reviewing micro-betting, according to a source familiar with the talks, while the MLB Players Association, NFL, and NFL Players Association declined to comment.
Source: ESPN
