NBA Directs Sportsbooks to Stop Offering Certain Game-Event Wagers
The NBA has directed sportsbooks to stop offering specific types of wagers, including bets on which player will record the first stat of a game or the outcome of the opening tip.
Topeka, KS, October 16, 2026 —
The NBA has directed sportsbooks to stop offering certain wagers tied to the opening moments of a game. The types identified include bets on which player will record the game’s first statistic and bets on the outcome of the opening tip.
The directive concerns those specific wager types, according to the information provided. It does not specify whether other kinds of in-game wagers are affected, or whether the instruction applies to every sportsbook or only to particular operators.
Details about the directive’s timing and scope were not provided. The information also does not identify the sportsbooks that received it, the jurisdictions involved, or whether the wagers have already been removed from betting menus.
No reason for the NBA’s instruction was given, and no details were provided about possible penalties or other enforcement measures. The information does not say whether the league has issued additional guidance to sportsbooks or whether further changes to available wagers are expected.
For now, the reported change is limited to the two examples named: wagers on the first player to record a statistic and wagers on the opening tip’s outcome. The NBA’s directive marks a change in the availability of those specific bets, while the broader effect on sportsbook offerings remains unclear from the details provided.
Story summarized from the original created by TIM REYNOLDS, Associated Press on www.ksnt.com, see more information here.
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