As it continues to explore expansion, the NBA is also raising the bar on transparency and competitive integrity. In a memo sent to all franchises, the league outlined a series of potential regulatory changes addressing sensitive areas such as injury reports, tanking, and prop bets, as part of a broader effort to combat the misuse of non-public information and the potential manipulation of on-court performance.

The document follows federal gambling investigations that have implicated a currently contracted player, an NBA head coach, and a former player, each accused – in different ways – of providing non-public information to bettors.

Injury reports: more frequent and more detailed

One of the memo’s key points concerns strengthening injury reporting. According to the league, teams would be required to:

  • submit their first injury report on game day between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. local time
  • update the public report on NBA.com every 15 minutes instead of every hour

The goal is to reduce the value of insider information, which often proves decisive in betting markets. No official implementation date has been announced yet.

Tanking under scrutiny: possible changes to the Lottery and pick protections

The league has also reopened the tanking discussion – the practice by which some teams sacrifice short-term results and minutes to improve their Draft position. Options under consideration include:

  • changes to pick protections
  • adjustments to the Draft Lottery system

The issue has become particularly sensitive after federal allegations that internal information about tanking decisions and planned rest was shared with bettors ahead of a March 2023 game.

The NBA stressed that the process is ongoing:

The review remains open, and we will continue to gather input from team stakeholders as the work continues.

NBA

Prop bets in the crosshairs: the NBA wants more control

Another major focus is individual player betting, widely viewed as especially vulnerable to manipulation. The league plans to push for:

  • limits on wager amounts
  • restrictions on “under” bets
  • a reduced pool of eligible players
  • elimination of bets that can be decided by a single action

The NBA’s stance is unequivocal:

Sports leagues should have control over the types of bets offered on their games.

NBA

Achieving this will not be easy, as changes would require negotiations with sportsbooks, intervention by state regulators, or even legislative action.

The full reform package

Beyond injuries, tanking, and prop bets, the memo identifies three additional areas of focus:

  • expanded gambling education programs
  • new measures to protect players, coaches, and staff from bettor harassment
  • stronger tools to detect abnormal betting patterns

It’s a clear signal that the league wants to stay ahead of the systemic risks tied to the growing integration between the NBA and sports betting.

The broader context: partnerships and responsibility

The NBA maintains official partnerships with FanDuel, DraftKings, and several other operators. Precisely because of these relationships, the league appears determined to reinforce its role as a guarantor of integrity – shrinking the gray areas where internal information can be turned into illicit financial advantage.