The NBA regular season is starting to wind down as the playoffs rapidly approach. However, before the playoffs officially begin on April 20, there is the critical NBA Play-In Tournament. The tournament is simple - the teams that finish 7th to 10th in each conference will play to decide the 7th and 8th seeds in their respective conference. In short, four teams in the Eastern and Western Conference will fight to be the last two teams in the playoffs from their conference. 

This tournament begs the question, is it legal to bet on? Here is a brief overview of gambling on the NBA Play-In Tournament, as well as how to gamble responsibly on basketball.

Basketball and Sports Betting

NBA as a pioneer of legalized and regulated sports betting

The sports betting industry changed in 2018 when the Supreme Court struck down PASPA, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. Since then, over three-quarters of the states have legalized sports betting in some form. However, the new era of sports betting was a dangerous and scary thought to most professional sports leagues. Commissioners were concerned with legalized betting leading to an increased likelihood of players gambling and ruining the integrity of the sport, with the biggest exception being NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who strongly believed that regulating it would be more beneficial than detrimental.

In 2014, Silver wrote an op-ed in the New York Times that was titled “Legalize and Regulate Sports Betting” (New York Times). Silver saw a different path for betting in professional sports and that if it became legalized, the leagues and their partners could better monitor it. Silver was far ahead of his time and became a pioneer for wanting to adopt regulated sports gambling and embrace how it could grow the game. 

NBA sports betting scandals

To Silver’s credit, the league’s most recent issue likely would not have been uncovered if sports betting were still unregulated and unmonitored. The scandal involves Jontay Porter, a player for the Toronto Raptors and brother of Nuggets superstar Michael Porter Jr. Jontay Porter is under investigation by the NBA as a result of suspicious bets placed on his player props. 

The first instance of a betting irregularity came on January 26 when the Raptors were playing the Los Angeles Clippers. Porter played only four minutes before exiting the game with what was described as a reaggravation an eye injury. He did not return to the game, and all of the “under” for Porter’s props were winners (CBS Sports). The next day, DraftKings Sportsbook reported that the under three-pointers made for Porter was their bettors’ biggest winner. 

The next instance was on March 20, when Porter played only two minutes before leaving the game with what was claimed to be an illness. Similar to the first game, DraftKings Sportsbook announced that Porter’s props were the #1 moneymaker that night for their NBA bettors. DraftKings reported multiple accounts attempting to wager tens of thousands of dollars on the “under” for Porter’s props, a highly suspicious amount for a non-superstar role player (CBS). 

But the biggest sports betting scandal in NBA history came about two decades earlier, and it didn’t even involve a player. Tim Donaghy is a former NBA referee who’s infamous for his role in a massive sports betting scheme. Donaghy would influence the outcome of the game with his whistle to try to have games end in his and his associates’ bets’ favor (ESPN). This scandal went on for a few years before it was uncovered and Donaghy ultimately went to prison for it.

Who is allowed to bet on the NBA Play-in Tournament?

Location Requirements

To bet on the NBA Play-In Tournament, you must be located in one of the 38 states that have legalized sports betting. However, only 30 of those states have legalized online sports betting. Those states are: 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.

That leaves eight states that are in-person betting only: Delaware, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin. 

And 12 states have not legalized any form of sports gambling: California, Texas, Idaho, Utah, Minnesota, Missouri, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Alaska and Hawaii.

Age Requirements

Sports betting age restrictions also depend on the state in which you are located. In a vast majority of states, you need to be at least 21 years old to place a wager. However, there are a handful of locations that require users to only be 18+ years old, including Kentucky, Montana, Rhode Island, Washington, D.C., and Wyoming. Note that some sportsbooks have kept their standard 21+ age restrictions in place for states that legally allow it for 18+ years old.

Those wanting to bet must adhere to the age rules of the state where they are located at that time. For example, a 20-year-old from Rhode Island can’t bet on sports while they are visiting Connecticut.

Can NBA players bet on sports?

Simply, yes and no. NBA players are allowed to bet on any sport other than their own. That means an NBA player can bet on the Super Bowl, World Series, or Stanley Cup, but not basketball. Any NBA player who gambles on the NBA is subject to suspension, fines, or expulsion from the league. If found guilty, Jontay Porter could be banned from the NBA for life.

Learn Responsible Gaming before betting on the NBA

The NBA Play-In Tournament and NBA Playoffs are exciting times in basketball, but it can also be a dangerous time for sports bettors, with a somewhat constant barrage of high-stakes games just about every day. So before potentially placing a bet on either of the two, here are a few tips to help you gamble responsibly.

• Only bet what you can afford to lose. View it as paid entertainment.

• Decide on a unit size - the amount of your standard bet - and stick to it (usually 1-4% of your bankroll, which is your betting budget)

• Set limits on how much/often you gamble on a daily, weekly, monthly basis

• NEVER chase your losses, meaning betting more to try to win back previous losses.

• Avoid gambling under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Gambling Addiction Help and Treatment

If you or somebody you know may be struggling with a gambling problem, there are helpful specialized resources available. One that is always available is called Birches Health, which offers personalized, digital gambling treatment options from the comfort of your home. Birches’ team of professionals have decades of experience, and there are $0 out-of-pocket costs for many patients.  

If you believe you or someone else could benefit from the Birches Health offerings, please call (833) 483-3838 or email hello@bircheshealth.com. 

Sources:

Legalize and Regulate Sports Betting

Jontay Porter gambling investigation explained: What we know as NBA looks into prop bet irregularities - CBSSports.com
How former ref Tim Donaghy conspired to fix NBA games - ESPN