The NBA sent a memo to its sportsbook partners on 16 October 2026 banning several prop and parlay markets for the 2026-27 season, AP reported. The best-known change: sportsbooks may no longer offer parlays that combine several unders on the same player. Opening-tip bets and unders on players expected to play only a few minutes are also gone. The league has not published the memo, so the details below are as reported.
Which NBA bets are banned?
| Market | Reported by |
|---|---|
| Parlays combining several unders on the same player | AP, LSR, Covers |
| Opening tip winner | AP, LSR, Covers |
| Unders on players expected to play under 12 minutes | LSR, Covers (AP: "not expected to play more than a few minutes") |
| Alternate under lines that pay more | LSR |
| A player to miss a particular shot or attempt | AP, Covers |
| "First-of" player markets, such as first basket or first rebound | AP |
These sit on top of earlier limits on props for players on 10-day or two-way contracts, and on bets on turnovers, fouls and missed free throws.
A prop (proposition bet) is a wager on something inside a game, such as a player's points, rather than the result. An under bets that the figure finishes below the line.
Why the NBA made the change
The reports tie the rules to federal gambling cases built around player unders. Jontay Porter admitted limiting his playing time to benefit bettors and was banned from the NBA in 2024. Terry Rozier is accused in a similar scheme involving a March 2023 game; he has pleaded not guilty and denies wrongdoing. The league is also adding in-person betting-rules training for players and staff, AI-based monitoring of unusual betting, and protections against betting-related harassment.
Prediction markets are outside the rules
The NBA enforces these limits through its sportsbook agreements. Legal Sports Report notes that prediction markets offering sports contracts under federal commodities oversight are not covered.
What it means for players
If you bet NBA props at a licensed US sportsbook (as of October 2026), expect fewer markets, especially same-player under combinations. Our bet types explainer covers the props that remain, and our parlay calculator shows how combined odds and payouts are worked out.
The reports do not say how sportsbooks will treat banned bets placed before the change. If a book voids or resettles one of yours, ask in writing for the rule it relied on, and keep the bet slip and replies; our complaint evidence checklist shows what to save. Fewer markets is also a natural point to set a budget; deposit limits and other tools are free.
Questions people ask
Can I still bet the opening tip in the NBA?
Not with a sportsbook that has an agreement with the NBA, according to the memo reported by AP, Legal Sports Report and Covers on 16 October 2026. Bets on who wins the opening tip are on the list of banned markets for the 2026-27 season. Covers notes the league can decide which markets its betting partners offer under those agreements, so expect the market to disappear from their NBA menus.
Does the NBA ban apply to Kalshi or other prediction markets?
No. Legal Sports Report notes the NBA enforces these limits through its agreements with sportsbooks, which the league estimates cover more than 99% of the US sports betting market. Prediction markets that offer sports contracts under federal commodities rules are not party to those agreements, so the memo does not bind them.
Can I still bet a single player under on its own?
The reported memo targets several unders on the same player in one parlay, unders on players expected to play very little, and alternate under lines with larger payouts. A standard single under on a regular rotation player is not on the reported list, but each sportsbook decides its own menu, so check what is offered.
Does the ban cover the WNBA?
Not yet. AP reported that the new rules will apply to WNBA games from 2027, while they cover NBA games from the 2026-27 season. Until then, WNBA markets depend on each sportsbook's own policy and its agreement with the league, so the props on offer may differ from the NBA menu.
Sources
- AP via NY1: Some wagers, certain parlays no longer can be offered to bettors, NBA tells sportsbooks (16 October 2026)
- Legal Sports Report: NBA bans more prop bets, parlays, but rules exclude prediction markets (16 October 2026)
- Covers: NBA reportedly bans certain bet types ahead of new season (16 October 2026)
Facts checked 23 Oct 2026. Compliance review 22 Oct 2026.
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