Following a high-profile NBA betting scandal, league officials and partner sportsbooks are scrutinizing which types of wagers are most susceptible to manipulation and determining appropriate betting limits, sources told ESPN.
Before the season, the NBA flagged missed free throws, fouls, and turnovers as particularly vulnerable to manipulation and asked partner sportsbooks to restrict such wagers. FanDuel confirmed it did not offer these bets, while DraftKings had previously allowed in-game betting on player free throws but removed such options prior to games.
The ongoing discussions also focus on establishing suitable limits for high-risk bets, which typically carry lower caps than game point spreads. “Prop bets on individual player performance can raise heightened integrity concerns and warrant additional scrutiny,” an NBA spokesperson told ESPN. The league continues to evaluate offerings alongside sportsbooks to safeguard the sport.
Prop Bets Under Federal Scrutiny
Player prop bets are under increased examination after veteran guard Terry Rozier was indicted for allegedly conspiring with gamblers over his performance-related wagers. Authorities claim Rozier informed a childhood friend that he planned to leave a March 2023 game early, with the friend reportedly selling this information to gamblers for around $100,000.
Ahead of the game, sportsbooks noted a surge in bets on the “under” for Rozier’s statistics, prompting them to remove the wagers hours before tip-off. Rozier played just over nine minutes, citing a foot injury. Betting records reviewed by ESPN show $257,700 was wagered across multiple sportsbooks on the under for that game. One Mississippi bettor reportedly placed 30 bets totaling $13,759 on Rozier’s under statistics on the morning of the game.
Sportsbooks Respond
DraftKings stated that the incident highlights the effectiveness of regulated sports betting in detecting suspicious activity. “Recent events demonstrate that the regulated sports betting industry is working as intended — fostering an environment of collaboration between operators, leagues, regulators, law enforcement and integrity monitoring services to help uncover suspicious activity,” the company told ESPN.
FanDuel emphasized its ongoing communication with the NBA and proactive monitoring of games. “From the start, our collaboration with the NBA has helped us determine what bets not to offer, like fouls, turnovers or missed free throws, and in partnership with the league, we’ve been able to evolve our offering, including removing props on players with two-way or ten-day contracts,” a spokesperson said.
Broader Implications and Industry Challenges
The NBA previously requested sportsbooks to restrict prop bets for players on two-way or 10-day contracts after Jontay Porter of the Toronto Raptors was banned for manipulating his performance to benefit bettors. Some of the same individuals implicated in Porter’s case were also involved in Rozier’s scheme.
Player prop bets continue to gain popularity, especially in parlays, which amplify potential payouts. However, while major sportsbooks may comply with NBA requests, the league’s influence is limited over daily fantasy sites, prediction markets, and offshore sportsbooks.
The Sports Betting Alliance, representing major U.S. operators, warned that blanket bans could drive bettors to unregulated platforms, creating oversight gaps. “That creates a dangerous blind spot for regulators and leagues, preventing them from effectively identifying and addressing threats to game integrity,”SBA president Jeremy Kudon told ESPN.
Source:
“Sources: NBA, books review most vulnerable bets, wager limits”, espn.com, October 30, 2025
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