NBA's New Betting Ban: What It Means for You

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-10-18

The NBA just dropped a bombshell on the sports betting world. Starting with the 2026-27 season, the league is banning certain player prop bets that it sees as too easy to manipulate. This comes after a string of gambling scandals involving both current and former players. So, if you're into betting on basketball, you'll want to pay attention. Things are about to change. ### What's Actually Getting Banned? In a memo sent out on October 16 to sportsbook partners like DraftKings and FanDuel, the NBA laid out the new rules. The biggest change? No more parlays that combine multiple under bets on the same player's stats. That means you can't bet on a player going under his points, rebounds, and assists all in one parlay. The league thinks these types of bets are too risky because a player could easily have an off night and affect multiple outcomes. But that's not all. The restrictions also cover: - Wagers on who wins the opening tip. - Bets on whether a specific player will miss a certain number of shots. - Any prop bet that the league deems vulnerable to manipulation. Basically, the NBA is trying to close any loopholes that could lead to shady behavior. And honestly, can you blame them? With all the recent scandals, they're under pressure to protect the integrity of the game. ### Why Now? You might be wondering why the NBA is doing this now. Well, it's not out of the blue. Over the past few years, there have been several high-profile gambling investigations. Some players have been caught betting on games, and others have been accused of point-shaving. The league wants to get ahead of the problem before it gets worse. By banning these prop bets, they're hoping to eliminate some of the temptation. ### What This Means for Bettors If you're someone who likes to bet on player props, this will definitely affect your strategy. The parlay restrictions alone will limit some of the more creative bets you might have been making. But it's not all bad news. The NBA is still allowing most traditional bets, like point spreads and over/unders on game totals. So you can still get your action in. ### The Bigger Picture This move by the NBA is part of a larger trend in sports. Leagues are waking up to the risks associated with sports betting, especially as it becomes more mainstream. The NFL, MLB, and others are all watching closely. Don't be surprised if you see similar restrictions pop up in other sports soon. For now, if you're betting on the NBA, make sure you know the new rules. The last thing you want is to place a bet that gets voided because it's no longer allowed. Stay informed, and happy betting!