NBA bettors will see fewer ways to wager on individual players this season after the league instructed its sportsbook partners to remove several markets and restrict parlays combining statistical unders for the same player.
The October 16 guidance covers opening-tip bets, individual player first-basket markets and certain wagers on missed shots. It also restricts under bets involving players expected to play fewer than 12 minutes.
The NBA confirmed the changes to SBC Americas, saying they form part of a broader effort to protect competition, strengthen betting monitoring and reduce harassment of players and staff.
Which Bets Are Being Removed?
The restrictions target wagers the league considers particularly vulnerable to manipulation. They apply through the NBA’s agreements with participating sportsbooks, including DraftKings and FanDuel.
| Bet type | New restriction |
|---|---|
| Multiple unders for one player | Sportsbooks cannot combine unders on the same player’s statistics in a parlay. |
| Individual player first-event bets | Markets such as the first basket, rebound, assist, steal or block are prohibited. |
| Opening tip | Bets on which team wins the opening tip are prohibited. |
| Specific missed shots | Bets on a player missing a particular attempt are prohibited. |
| Players with limited expected minutes | Under bets are restricted when a player is expected to play fewer than 12 minutes. |
The League Is Not Banning Every Under Bet
An under bet predicts that a player will finish below a specified number of points, rebounds or another statistic. The new guidance does not prohibit all such wagers.
One central change concerns combining several unders for the same player. For example, a parlay predicting that one player will finish below separate points, rebounds and assists totals falls within the restriction.
Those outcomes can move together when a player spends unexpectedly little time on court. That connection helps explain the league’s focus on combinations of unders and players expected to make only brief appearances.
The same requirements will extend to WNBA games in 2027. Some sportsbooks already limit parts of the affected betting menu, so the visible changes will vary between operators.
Sportsbooks Support the New Limits
DraftKings said the guidance formalizes many restrictions already reflected in its practices. FanDuel also expressed support, emphasizing cooperation with leagues and regulators to protect fair competition.
The changes follow gambling investigations involving NBA players. League executive Scott Kaufman-Ross told ESPN that officials sought to remove problematic wagers while avoiding restrictions that could push more betting toward illegal operators.
Monitoring and Player Protections Also Expand
The NBA is strengthening its system for detecting unusual betting activity and requiring players, coaches and training staff to attend in-person education on gambling rules.
Former NFL player and retired FBI agent Charles Tillman will lead that training. Additional measures include a reporting channel for threats and tools to identify and remove abusive social media messages.
For bettors, the immediate effect is a narrower selection of player props at participating sportsbooks. The distinction to watch is the specific market or combination being offered, rather than assuming every wager on a player finishing below a statistical total has disappeared.
