Sports Leagues Seek Additional Input on Betting Opportunities

The recent lifetime suspension of Jontay Porter from the NBA due to gambling-related incidents has sparked a conversation among sports leagues about the risks associated with the expanding sports betting landscape in the U.S. According to ESPN, some leagues are advocating for changes in the types of bets offered by platforms and placing limits on certain wagers.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who handed down Porter’s ban in April, emphasized the need for sports leagues to have more control over the terms and types of bets available. This comes as Porter faces allegations of manipulating his performance in games to benefit bettors on his player prop bets, prompting investigations in both the U.S. and Canada.

While sports leagues have benefited financially from partnerships with sportsbooks since the federal ban on betting outside Nevada was lifted in 2018, concerns about game integrity have been raised in light of the Porter case. Declan Hill, a professor at the University of New Haven, warned of a potential scandal looming over one of the leagues.

In response to these concerns, the NBA, NHL, NFL, MLB, and NCAA have all engaged in discussions with sports betting partners to consider limiting certain types of bets. The focus is on protecting players, particularly those in two-way contracts with the G-League, who may be more susceptible to compromising game integrity for financial gain.

Despite these concerns, those in the gaming industry argue that modern sports betting operations have robust protocols in place to prevent match-fixing and other improprieties. They maintain that the ability to track money flow in real-time makes it increasingly difficult for individuals to manipulate outcomes undetected.