Home / NBA bet rule changes
Free guide · NBA · Oct 16, 2026
NBA betting rule changes
This used to be our First Basket & First TD tool. After the NBA’s Oct 16, 2026 memos, we retired the first-basket part. Here’s every bet type the league asked its partner sportsbooks to stop offering, in plain language, and which of our tools still help.
- Six kinds of NBA bets are affected: first-of bets, opening tip, same-player under parlays, unders on players under 12 minutes, missed-shot bets and alt-under lines.
- NFL first-TD stats moved to First TD scorer.
- Floor Lines, Slip Surgery and the player pages work the same as before.
Which bet types are affected
“First-of” betsAsked to stop
Bets on who does something first: first basket, first 3-pointer, first rebound, assist, steal or block.
Example: “Player X to score the game’s first basket.”
Opening tipAsked to stop
Bets on which team wins the jump ball that starts the game.
Example: “Team A to win the opening tip.”
Same-player under parlaysAsked to stop
One parlay that stacks two or more unders on the same player.
Example: Player X under 15.5 points + under 5.5 rebounds + under 3.5 assists, all in one parlay.
Unders on low-minute playersAsked to stop
Under bets on players expected to play fewer than 12 minutes in a game.
Example: the under on a bench player who usually plays 8 to 10 minutes.
Missed-shot betsAsked to stop
Bets on a player to miss specific shots.
Example: “Player X to miss his first shot.”
Alt-under linesAsked to stop
Alternate under lines with bigger payouts (a lower number than the main line).
Example: under 9.5 points at long odds when the main line is 18.5.
Already limited in earlier seasonsEarlier rules
Turnover props, foul bets, missed free throws, and bets involving players on 10-day or two-way contracts.
FanDuel first-basket prices, while they’re still listed
The NBA asked partner sportsbooks to stop offering first-basket bets. FanDuel’s Michigan feed still listed the market when we checked at 10:37 PM ET, Nov 1. This box disappears on its own when FanDuel stops listing it, and each game drops off at tip. Shortest prices shown, not picks.
OKC @ CLE Mon 7:10 PM ET
- Jarrett Allen+450
- Evan Mobley+450
- Donovan Mitchell+600
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander+700
- Ajay Mitchell+900
- James Harden+950
- +4 more in the FanDuel app
BKN @ NY Mon 7:40 PM ET
- Jalen Brunson+410
- Michael Porter Jr.+550
- Karl-Anthony Towns+550
- OG Anunoby+700
- Julius Randle+750
- Mikal Bridges+850
- +3 more in the FanDuel app
DET @ CHA Mon 7:40 PM ET
- Cade Cunningham+440
- Brandon Miller+600
- Paul Reed+600
- Moussa Diabaté+750
- Naz Reid+850
- Duncan Robinson+900
- +4 more in the FanDuel app
CHI @ PHI Mon 7:40 PM ET
- Jaylen Brown+460
- Joel Embiid+480
- LeBron James+600
- Tyrese Maxey+650
- VJ Edgecombe+950
- Matas Buzelis+1000
- +4 more in the FanDuel app
MIL @ MIN Mon 8:10 PM ET
- Rudy Gobert+480
- LaMelo Ball+500
- Jonathan Kuminga+650
- Jaden McDaniels+650
- Ayo Dosunmu+800
- Tyler Herro+850
- +4 more in the FanDuel app
NO @ MEM Mon 8:10 PM ET
- Ty Jerome+460
- Zach Edey+500
- Cameron Boozer+600
- Cedric Coward+650
- Zion Williamson+700
- Trey Murphy III+800
- +4 more in the FanDuel app
BOS @ HOU Mon 8:40 PM ET
- Jayson Tatum+460
- Paul George+470
- Alperen Sengun+550
- Mitchell Robinson+700
- Kevin Durant+900
- Amen Thompson+900
- +4 more in the FanDuel app
UTAH @ SA Mon 8:40 PM ET
- Victor Wembanyama+270
- De'Aaron Fox+550
- Dylan Harper+700
- Devin Vassell+800
- Stephon Castle+800
- Lauri Markkanen+950
- +4 more in the FanDuel app
POR @ DEN Mon 9:10 PM ET
- Jamal Murray+470
- Nikola Jokic+550
- Deni Avdija+650
- Damian Lillard+650
- Scoot Henderson+800
- Aaron Gordon+850
- +4 more in the FanDuel app
FanDuel prices at 10:37 PM ET, Nov 1; lines move, so check the app before you bet. Availability varies by state. Not a pick. 21+ | 1-800-GAMBLER
What changed, and when
- Oct 16, 2026: the memosNews outlets that obtained the NBA’s memos reported that the league told its partner sportsbooks (the NBA says they handle about 99% of legal U.S. betting) to stop offering the bets below this season.
- The 2026-27 seasonThe changes cover NBA games this season. NBC Sports reports the same rules come to the WNBA next season.
- Nov 1, 2026: our pagesWe took first-basket prices off Slip Surgeon and turned our first-basket and tip-off pages into this guide.
What it means for bettors
- First basket and opening tip: the NBA asked partner sportsbooks to stop offering them. Some books, including FanDuel’s Michigan feed as of Nov 1, 2026, may still list them, and it can vary by book and state. We don’t show first-basket prices or picks anymore.
- Parlays with unders: the NBA asked partner sportsbooks to stop offering parlays with two or more unders on the same player. Some books, including FanDuel’s Michigan feed as of Nov 1, 2026, may still list them. One under per player stays clear of the change.
- Bench players: expect fewer under bets on players who play only a few minutes.
- What’s not on the list: none of the reports we read included regular player overs, a single under on a rotation player, spreads, totals or moneylines.
- NFL bets aren’t affected. This is an NBA rule. NFL first-TD and anytime-TD stats are still on First TD scorer and Anytime TD scorer.
- Details can differ by report. The NBA hasn’t published the memos, so this comes from outlets that saw them, and they describe a few details differently. For example, Sports Business Journal describes the first-of change as stopping bets against a player recording the first points, rebound, assist, steal or block. What your app offers is the final word.
Our free tools that still apply
Questions
Can I still parlay unders?
The NBA asked partner sportsbooks to stop offering parlays with two or more unders on the same player. Some books, including FanDuel’s Michigan feed as of Nov 1, 2026, may still list them. The reports we read don’t include unders on different players in the same parlay.
What is an alt-under line?
An alternate under at a lower number than the main line, for a bigger payout. The NBA asked partner sportsbooks to stop offering them, but some books, including FanDuel’s Michigan feed as of Nov 1, 2026, may still list them.
Where did the NFL first-TD stats go?
They’re on our First TD scorer page, which isn’t affected by the NBA change.
When did the NBA change its betting rules?
The memos were reported on Oct 16, 2026, the week before the 2026-27 season started. The changes cover this season.
Why did the NBA do this?
The league said it wants to remove bets that one player could easily influence, especially “low likelihood, high payout” bets, after recent federal betting cases involving NBA players.
Sources
- ESPN, “NBA tells sportsbooks to stop certain bets, restrict parlays” (Oct 16, 2026)
- Hoops Rumors, “NBA Instructs Sportsbook Partners To Ban Certain Bets” (Oct 16, 2026)
- USA Today, “NBA, sportsbooks enact bans on certain wagers, parlays and under bets” (Oct 16, 2026)
- NBC Sports, “NBA works with sportsbook partners to remove specific wagers, prop bet parlays on games” (Oct 16, 2026)
- AP, “Some bets, certain parlays no longer can be offered, NBA tells sportsbooks” (Oct 16, 2026)
- Sports Business Journal, “New NBA season brings a change to rules and processes” (Oct 16, 2026)
The NBA’s memos went to sportsbooks and teams, not the public. We summarize what these outlets reported; we haven’t seen the memos ourselves.
For information only, not legal advice. Rules can differ by sportsbook and state. Model picks, not promises. 21+ | Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.