NBA Instructs Sportsbooks to Drop Certain Game-Opening Wagers
The NBA has instructed sportsbooks to discontinue offering certain types of wagers, including bets on the first player stat of a game and the outcome of the opening tip.
Minot Bismarck Dickinson, ND, October 16, 2026 —
The NBA has instructed sportsbooks to stop offering certain types of wagers tied to the opening moments of a game. The wagers identified include bets on the first player statistic recorded and on the outcome of the opening tip.
The instruction’s timing and scope were not provided. The available summary does not identify which sportsbooks received it, whether it applies across all betting markets, or when the affected wagers are expected to be removed. It also does not describe any response from sportsbook operators.
No reason for the instruction was given. The summary does not state whether the NBA cited a particular concern, identified a rule or policy behind the move, or outlined any consequences for sportsbooks that continue to offer the wagers. It also does not provide details about other bet types that may be covered beyond the two examples.
The reported change concerns a specific category of wagers: those tied to the first player statistic in a game or to the opening tip’s result. The information provided does not establish whether other wagers involving game openings are affected. Further details about the instruction, including its reach and implementation, were not available in the summary.
Story summarized from the original created by TIM REYNOLDS, Associated Press on www.kxnet.com, see more information here.
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