NBA Restricts Same-Player Under Parlays and Opening-Tip Bets

The NBA has instructed its sportsbook partners to remove several betting markets for the new season, including parlays combining unders on the same player’s statistics, ESPN reported Friday.

A league memo obtained by ESPN also prohibited bets on the opening-tip winner or players missing specific shots. Under wagers involving players expected to play fewer than 12 minutes in a particular game are barred, along with alternate under lines carrying larger payouts.

NBA executive Scott Kaufman-Ross told ESPN that federal cases involving Jontay Porter and Terry Rozier factored into the decision. Porter admitted intentionally leaving games early to help bettors; Rozier has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing.

The restrictions apply through the NBA’s agreements with authorized operators, including DraftKings and FanDuel. The league estimates those partners account for more than 99 percent of the U.S. betting market, according to ESPN.

A separate memo to teams detailed additional integrity measures, ESPN reported. Those include in-person instruction on betting rules and expanded monitoring for suspicious wagers. The NBA also introduced a text hotline to report gambling-related harassment and threats.