The Supreme Court’s ruling that legalized sports betting is a constitutionally protected right opens the door for more states to legalize the activity. As the trend continues to grow, it’s important to understand how official betting works and the rules that govern it.
The NBA’s rules prohibit players, coaches and other league employees from placing any bets on the sport or its teams. This includes bets placed in person, online or with any third-party. However, if a wager is made on a non-NBA-related event, such as Super Bowl squares, NCAA tournament brackets or fantasy basketball, the player is not violating any NBA rules. This also holds true for NBA players when they’re on the road with their team or visiting other cities and casinos.
In New York, legal sports betting rolled out in 2019 with retail wagering at commercial and tribal casinos. Online sports betting went live in January 2022 with DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, PointsBet, BetRivers and BetMGM offering state-licensed platforms.
The NBA is taking a proactive approach to sports betting, working with regulators and partnering with sportsbooks and integrity firms to create a network that monitors the betting market and helps identify improper bettors. The league is also educating students-athletes with an e-learning module that features real-life stories of problem gambling. In addition, the NBA is distributing sports betting awareness posters and stickers in schools across the country. Athletes are encouraged to sign a statement acknowledging the league’s rules on gambling.