NBA reminded its teams on Friday that it wants to control which types of bets are offered on its games, an indicator that it will continue negotiating with sportsbooks and regulatory agencies to make that happen.
The memo, obtained by The Associated Press, was released two months after the arrests of Miami guard Terry Rozier and Portland coach Chauncey Billups on separate gambling-related charges. The league said the announcement was meant to “further promote understanding of and adherence to the league’s betting rules.”
The document outlines a number of changes, ranging from minor adjustments to more substantial policy shifts. The NBA is tightening its oversight of injury reporting, addressing the issue of “tanking,” implementing safety measures for players and coaches, and taking steps to protect the game from betting-related misconduct.
Among the most visible changes:
- Except on the second day of back-to-back games, teams must resubmit injury reports on game days. For games that tip off at 5 p.m. or earlier, the additional report comes between 8-10 a.m.; otherwise, it comes between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The league said the move would “further promote transparency regarding players’ game participation status, and thereby diminish the value of confidential information that could be ‘tipped’ ” to bettors or others.
- The league will add more “training touchpoints” throughout the season to educate all league and team personnel on betting rules. It will also introduce new compliance measures for individuals who are not employed by a team but may have access to confidential team information.
- The NBA will update its Fan Code of Conduct to better protect players, coaches, and other personnel from harassment or threats by sports bettors. It will also push for stronger anti-harassment protections in federal or state laws and regulations.
- The issue of “tanking” remains a major concern, and the NBA is reviewing potential policy changes, though none were announced on Friday.
- The league will use artificial intelligence and other tools to detect unusual betting activity and will continue to push for changes on the so-called “prop bets,” which it hopes will reduce the risk of player performance manipulation.
Rozier is accused of disclosing to friends that he would leave a game early while with the Charlotte Hornets in March 2023, prompting bettors to make successful “under” wagers on his prop bet values that night.
In addition to the betting rule changes, the NBA announced that Eric Lewis has been reinstated to the league’s officiating program as an NBA G League official. He will begin officiating games at the G League Winter Showcase in Orlando this weekend, with a potential path toward returning to the NBA.
Lewis retired in August 2023 after an investigation into potential violations of the NBA’s social media policy. The league said Lewis “fully participated in an investigation into his social media activities during his time as an NBA official.” He cleared several benchmarks, including stress-management counseling and training on responsible use of social media.
Lewis has worked as an NCAA referee for the last two seasons. “Over nearly 20 years, Eric established himself as one of the NBA’s premier game officials,” said Byron Spruell, the NBA’s President overseeing League Operations. “While he made a mistake in engaging on social media, our investigation concluded that his behavior did not impact his ability to officiate games fairly and with integrity. We are confident he has learned from that experience and can properly serve the game again, first as an NBA G League official and potentially in a return as an NBA official.”
The memo underscores the league’s intent to maintain the integrity of its games amid growing scrutiny over betting practices. By tightening reporting requirements, expanding education, and leveraging technology, the NBA aims to reduce the influence of insider information on wagering outcomes.
With the reinstatement of Lewis and the rollout of new betting rules, the NBA signals a broader commitment to safeguarding its competitive environment while adapting to the evolving landscape of sports betting.
Key Takeaways
- NBA teams will resubmit injury reports on game days, with specific timing based on kickoff time.
- Additional training and compliance measures will target both team personnel and external individuals with access to confidential information.
- The league will update fan conduct policies and use AI tools to monitor betting activity, while also addressing prop bets and the issue of tanking.
The NBA’s comprehensive approach reflects its effort to protect the integrity of the game, prevent insider betting, and ensure fair play for all stakeholders.
