NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, a longtime advocate for legalized sports betting in the United States, sounded the alarm on the need for enhanced regulation on The Pat McAfee Show. Since his 2014 New York Times op-ed advocating for federal oversight, the legal landscape has shifted dramatically, with 39 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico now offering regulated betting markets.

Silver highlighted the risk of game manipulation, citing the 2023-24 scandal involving Jontay Porter of the Toronto Raptors, who was banned for deliberately underperforming in games to influence gambling outcomes. In response, the NBA instructed its sportsbook partners to avoid offering prop bets on players with two-way contracts, especially for underperformance. Silver warned that bets on players with lower stakes can be easily manipulated, posing serious threats to league integrity.

Beyond player conduct, Silver emphasized fan behavior concerns tied to betting. Disappointed bets can lead to unruly actions in arenas, even if teams or players perform well. The NBA has circulated a memo to teams stressing consistent enforcement of the NBA Fan Code of Conduct to maintain a safe environment for players and spectators.

Silver advocates for federal regulation over the current fragmented state-by-state system, arguing that a unified framework would enhance monitoring of sports betting promotion and advertising. He noted the benefits of the current regulated market, including enhanced visibility to detect suspicious betting patterns such as unusually large wagers, new accounts created for specific bets, and precise geolocation tracking within arenas. This allows the NBA to identify and prevent irregularities more effectively, safeguarding the integrity of the game.