Between Betting and Injuries, the NBA Tries to Rebuild Trust
Where does the protection of the game end and the interests of betting begin? The NBA is walking a fine line, trying to save its credibility after yet another betting scandal
The NBA has sent a league-wide memorandum to all 30 teams, urging stricter oversight on issues tied to sports betting and the integrity of the game. The document – obtained by ESPN and reported by Shams Charania – comes at a crucial time, as legal betting continues to expand across the United States, blurring the line between competition and commerce.
The memo cites a specific episode from March 2023, when real-time monitoring detected unusual betting activity on under wagers related to Terry Rozier’s performance. While the bets themselves were legal, the league acknowledged that the incident exposed vulnerabilities in its monitoring systems and the urgent need to strengthen its safeguards.
According to the NBA, “proposition bets” – wagers on individual player performances – pose a unique risk to competitive integrity. These bets can affect not just public perception, but also potentially influence player behavior or those close to them.
The document also announces an overall review of the league’s internal policies: the procedures for reporting injuries will be updated to ensure greater transparency, and training and awareness activities will be intensified for all personnel – from coaches to players – regarding the risks associated with gambling.
The goal is to protect athletes from possible pressure or harassment by bettors and to ensure that they are fully aware of the consequences that betting can have on their performances and on public perception.
The memo also outlines the introduction of AI-based monitoring tools capable of analyzing massive data flows from betting operators, social media, and other sources — a move aimed at detecting suspicious patterns faster and more accurately.
At the same time, the issue has reignited public debate about the NBA’s relationship with the betting industry. Many fans and analysts on social media have pointed out the contradiction between the league’s push to safeguard integrity and its lucrative partnerships with major sportsbooks.
These measures represent an important step toward greater transparency and accountability, but they leave open a fundamental question: how much can the integrity of basketball really be protected in a system that depends more and more on betting revenue?