The NBA has introduced new policies on injury reporting and sports betting in response to recent gambling scandals involving league personnel. Teams must now resubmit injury reports on game days with frequent updates to enhance transparency. The league is also reviewing measures to combat tanking while pushing for restrictions on prop bets.
The National Basketball Association announced several policy changes on Friday, December 19, 2025, aimed at strengthening integrity amid ongoing concerns over sports betting and tanking. These updates follow the arrests of Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, and former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach Damon Jones in late October 2025, as part of federal investigations into illegal gambling activities.
In a memo to teams, obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA detailed modifications to injury reporting protocols. Except on the second day of back-to-back games, teams must resubmit injury reports on game days. For tip-offs at 5 p.m. or earlier, submissions occur between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. local time; otherwise, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. All statuses must be entered into the league's injury portal, with public updates every 15 minutes, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The league stated this promotes "transparency regarding players’ game participation status, and thereby diminish the value of confidential information that could be ‘tipped’" to bettors.
The changes stem from incidents like Rozier's alleged disclosure of an early exit during a March 2023 game with the Charlotte Hornets, enabling over $200,000 in successful "under" prop bets. Similarly, Billups is accused of sharing non-public information about Blazers players sitting out a March 2023 matchup against the Chicago Bulls, leading to more than $100,000 wagered against Portland before lines shifted.
Beyond reporting, the NBA is advocating for prop bet restrictions with gaming companies, including limits on maximum wager amounts, "unders," player populations, and elimination of bets on single plays. The league plans increased training on betting rules, enhanced Fan Code of Conduct protections against harassment from bettors, and AI monitoring for unusual activity.
On tanking, the NBA is reviewing potential adjustments to draft pick protections and lottery rules, building on prior efforts like the play-in tournament and flattened odds. No specific changes were announced, but the issue persists, with teams like the Blazers accused of using injuries strategically from 2021 to 2024 to improve draft positioning.
