NBA Memo Directs Sportsbooks to Prohibit Specific Player Props and Parlay Combinations

The NBA has distributed a memo to authorized sports betting operators directing them to stop accepting certain wagers viewed as threats to game integrity. The October 16 communication targets player prop parlay bets and other low-likelihood offerings. It follows Adam Silver‘s prior call for prediction markets to share data that could curb insider activity, as reported by GamblingNews.

The league distributed the memo to operators that include FanDuel and DraftKings. It specifies that bettors cannot combine the under on the same player’s statistics within parlays. Additional prohibitions cover bets on the winner of the opening tip, specific shots, and unders on players expected to appear for fewer than 12 minutes in a game.

Restricted Bet Types and Integrity Rationale

Scott Kaufman-Ross, NBA executive vice president, said the league spent considerable time identifying “low likelihood, high payout bets” as priorities. He cited the Jontay Porter and Terry Rozier matters as cautionary examples where third parties profited from non-public information. Kaufman-Ross stated: “There’s a balance between ensuring that we are removing problematic bet types but also ensuring that we don’t just move activity into the illegal market. And where we landed right now, we think, is the right balance of those two objectives.”

The restrictions apply across platforms, including prediction markets in theory. Kaufman-Ross acknowledged that enforcement remains difficult without formal partnerships. The NBA is also examining sports event contracts as part of its broader review. A FanDuel spokesperson told ESPN the company is prepared to comply, noting the regulated industry rests on a “foundation of dialogue.” The operator added: “We remain unwavering in our commitment to building a legal and regulated market that roots out abuses by those who seek to undermine fair competition and damage the integrity of the games we love.”

Enforcement Limits and Operator Obligations

These directives place immediate compliance pressure on licensed operators while highlighting gaps in reach over unlicensed and prediction platforms. The NBA’s approach favors targeted limits over blanket prohibitions to keep activity within regulated channels. Operators will need to update risk models and product menus accordingly. How prediction markets respond without data-sharing agreements will determine whether the league’s integrity goals translate beyond sportsbooks.

Reporting: GamblingNews

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