NBA Bans Player-Under Parlays Over Manipulation Fears — SkimNews

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- NBA distributed a memo to sportsbook partners on Friday banning parlay bets that include the under on the same player's statistics, along with "first of" markets like opening-tip winners and first made shot, rebound, or assist
- NBA also barred under bets on players projected to play fewer than 12 minutes in a given game
- DraftKings and FanDuel are among the authorized operators affected; the NBA estimates its partner sportsbooks account for more than 99% of the U.S. betting market
- Jontay Porter received a lifetime ban in 2024 after admitting in court he removed himself from games early to ensure his under bets hit, including a March 2024 Raptors-Kings game where federal prosecutors cited an $80,000 parlay that stood to pay out over $1 million — Porter left that game after three minutes
- Terry Rozier allegedly removed himself after nine minutes in a 2023 game flagged for similar reasons, and Malik Beasley has faced comparable allegations
- The league holds authority to restrict what partner sportsbooks offer through its agreements, allowing the ban to take effect across the regulated market without new legislation
Why it matters: Because partner sportsbooks represent over 99% of the U.S. betting market, the NBA can effectively erase these bet types industry-wide through commercial agreements alone. The Porter case — a player checking out after three minutes so a bettor's $80,000 parlay could pay over $1 million — showed exactly how exploitable these markets are, and the league is now using its contractual leverage to close the loophole rather than waiting for state or federal regulators to act.
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