Can I bet on 2024 NBA Draft? Betting basketball responsibly
Author:
Jonathan
Published:
Jun 20, 2024
With the 2024 NBA Finals in the books, many fans will turn their attention to the 2024 NBA Draft beginning on Wednesday, June 26. Not only is it an event that showcases the best young talent, but it is also one that can be wagered on. Therefore, it is important to know how to do so responsibly, especially given the gambling issues with the NBA this past season.
Legal considerations for betting on the NBA Draft
Location Rules
While betting on the 2024 NBA Draft is legal, there are considerations at play. One of which is your location, as only certain states, along with Washington D.C., have launched legal sports betting. In total there are 38 locations with some form of legal sports betting, and 30 of those have legal mobile sports betting, which are as follows: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia, and Wyoming.
As for the other eight states, they offer legal sports betting in the form of retail, or in-person, locations. Those states are the following: Delaware, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Lastly, that leaves 12 states in which no forms of sports betting are legal, and they are the following: California, Texas, Idaho, Utah, Minnesota, Missouri, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Alaska and Hawaii.
Age Rules
Along with location, there are also age rules to consider when it comes to betting on the 2024 NBA Draft. Primarily, the age requirement is 21 in those states with legal sports betting, but there are a few exceptions.
Some locations have an age requirement of 18, which are Kentucky, Montana, Rhode Island, Washington, D.C., and Wyoming. However, that does not mean that all sportsbooks in those locations have an 18-year-old requirement, as some remain at the more standard 21 years old.
Therefore, keep in mind that not only must you be of the proper age in a given state regardless of where you are from, but it also may vary based on the sportsbook used.
NBA and Sports Betting: From Legalization to Scandal
NBA as a pioneer of legalizing sports betting
As one of the premier sports leagues in the U.S., it’s no surprise that the NBA is a popular sport for fans to want to bet on. That was only amplified when the commissioner of the NBA - Adam Silver - became vocal about his support of regulated sports betting.
Although many fans would consider the NFL as the kings of sports leagues in the country – and in many respects, it is – the NBA was the first league to partner with one of the major sportsbooks, which was BetMGM. Their resorts hosted the summer league, so it was a logical partnership.
Jontay Porter scandal
While a partnership may have been natural, the relationship between the NBA and sports betting could always also cause significant issues. We’ve already seen some of the most significant scandals in sports dating back to Pete Rose and the MLB, and the NBA has been at the forefront of a gambling scandal as recently as April of 2024.
In March 2024, reports indicated that Jontay Porter, the brother of superstar Michael Porter Jr., was being investigated for sports betting. As a role player that got very little playing time for the Toronto Raptors, he was found to have been wagering on prop bets involving himself.
In those games, he would find ways to limit his playing time, citing illnesses or injuries to help his wagers be successful. The investigation didn’t take long, as on April 17, 2024, the NBA banned Jontay Porter for life.
Responsible Gaming tips for betting on the NBA Draft
Given that betting on the 2024 NBA Draft is going to be occurring in the near future, if it’s going to be done, it’s crucial to do so responsibly. Therefore, we’ve shared some tips below:
Set limits: Set aside a specific amount that you are comfortable risking and place wagers based on that amount in increments.
Don’t chase losses: The tip above will also help you avoid chasing losses, as doing so only compounds the problem and will rapidly drain your funds.
View it as entertainment: Remember that you are setting aside funds to risk that you are comfortable with, as sports betting should not be viewed as a form of replicable income.
Don’t gamble under the influence: Gambling under the influence of drugs or alcohol will make following the above tips significantly more difficult and impair judgment overall.
Be wary of inside information: Drafts are rife with purposeful misinformation across just about all sports. Teams will feed information to reporters regularly, and at times that news is inaccurate, meant to influence the draft picks and decisions of other teams.
Problem Gambling Help and Treatment
As you can see given the recent scandal, among others, gambling addiction can affect people of all types in all walks of life. That is why resources like Birches Health are here to help, which is seen in 90% of patients reporting an increased quality of life after having received treatment. Licensed professionals are available to help completely online, making the treatment readily available.
Sources:
Sports gambling scandal timeline: From Porter to Marcano - ESPN
Timeline of Jontay Porter’s NBA career and gambling investigation that led to ban - The Athletic
