NBA Bars Certain Wagers From Sportsbooks This Season

Terre Haute, IN, October 16, 2026 —

The NBA has informed sportsbooks that certain wagers will not be permitted this season, including bets on which player records the first statistic of a game and on the outcome of the opening tip.

The league’s notice establishes that those wager types are off limits for the season. The information provided does not identify which sportsbooks received the notice, when it was sent, or how the restriction will be enforced.

The NBA also has not provided a reason for barring the wagers in the information available. It is unclear whether the notice covers additional types of bets beyond the two examples cited, or whether sportsbooks may offer other wagers related to the start of a game.

The scope of the restriction and any procedures for handling wagers already placed were not specified. No details were provided about possible penalties for sportsbooks that offer the prohibited bets, or whether the league plans to issue further guidance.

For now, the confirmed change is limited to the league’s instruction that the cited wagers will not be permitted this season. The precise start and end dates for the restriction were not provided.

Story summarized from the original created by TIM REYNOLDS, Associated Press on www.mywabashvalley.com, see more information here.

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