NBA Players' Gambling: Is Betting Permissible for Pro Athletes?

In the world of professional basketball, the National Basketball Association (NBA) has been taking steps to ensure the integrity of the game remains intact. This focus has been heightened following a series of scandals, most notably the lifetime ban of former Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter for breaching the league's gambling rules.

Porter, who was a player for the Raptors, was flagged for contributing to suspicious betting activity. It was discovered that he had placed around $54,094 and won about $21,965 from his betting activity while traveling with the team during the official NBA season. His behavior left a mark on the NBA, making it unlikely for other players to attempt to circumvent the gambling rules.

The NBA's gambling rules, outlined in the TeaM haNDbOOk, prohibit insiders (game officials, team members, or individuals involved in the association) from betting on the outcome of an NBA game. This rule is in place to prevent conflicts of interest and game integrity risks.

Following Porter's scandal, the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) have supported implementing stricter restrictions on prop betting involving individual player statistics during games. The rationale for this move arises from evidence that some players have manipulated their performance to help bettors win such wagers.

The league and the players union are advocating restrictions on what types of prop bets sportsbooks can offer, especially those related to specific player performances such as points, rebounds, or other individual stats. This move is aimed at reducing the risks of game manipulation and player harassment.

While the NBA aims to limit bets that incentivize manipulation, it supports allowing fans to place bets through legal, regulated markets that do not threaten integrity. The league is actively considering formal rule changes to enforce these tighter regulations, but as of August 2025, these are under discussion rather than fully codified new rules.

It's important to note that NBA players are not banned from gambling on basketball, but they are prohibited from participating in NBA-hosted and associated events. The league's focus is on ensuring that no insider undermines the game by throwing plays, tipping associates, or gambling on outcomes themselves.

The Porter gambling scandal led to a review of the existing NBA gambling rules and the introduction of the revised NBA Gambling Policy. This policy aims to preserve personal freedoms while ensuring the integrity of the game. The new policy serves as a reminder of the NBA's focus on ensuring the integrity of the game and preventing insiders from undermining it.

References:

[1] ESPN. (2024). Jontay Porter banned for life by NBA for gambling. https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/32914334/jontay-porter-banned-life-nba-gambling

[2] Sports Illustrated. (2024). Jontay Porter's gambling scandal sparks NBA rule changes. https://www.si.com/nba/2024/08/01/jontay-porter-nba-gambling-scandal-rule-changes

[3] USA Today. (2024). NBA tightens gambling rules following Jontay Porter scandal. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2024/08/01/nba-tightens-gambling-rules-following-jontay-porter-scandal/4233579001/

[4] The Washington Post. (2024). Jontay Porter's gambling scandal leads to stricter NBA rules. https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/08/01/jontay-porter-gambling-scandal-leads-stricter-nba-rules/

[5] CBS Sports. (2024). NBA's new gambling rules: What players can and can't do. https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nbas-new-gambling-rules-what-players-can-and-cant-do/