In recent weeks, the National Football League (NFL) has once again drawn attention to the issue of special bets known as prop bets (proposition bets). Against the backdrop of high-profile investigations in the baseball and basketball leagues, NFL management issued a memorandum outlining its position and the rationale for new restrictions. Why is the regulation of prop bets coming to the forefront right now, and what threats does the league see in such bets?
Why the NFL is tightening betting rules
At the beginning of June, professional sports in the United States faced a series of scandals related to match-fixing and leaking insider information. Players from Major League Baseball (MLB) and the National Basketball Association (NBA) were accused of colluding with fraudsters, using their position to profit from betting. These events sparked a wave of discussions about the risks associated with gambling and possible ways to undermine the integrity of competitions.
NFL management is particularly concerned about the growing popularity of bets not on the outcome of the match, but on individual game events. Such bets put trust in sports at risk and can become an incentive for violations. In the memorandum sent to clubs, the league emphasizes: “Integrity and impartiality of competitions are our top priority.” That is why attention to prop bets has become so acute: it is easier to fake a single action by one athlete than the outcome of a match.
Which bets are now banned
The term “prop bets” applies to bets on individual events that occur within a game. This is not the result of the match, but, for example, the outcome of the first pass, a specific number of fouls, or even player injuries. In the new NFL memorandum, several categories of bets are highlighted that are now prohibited:
- Bets on events that can be considered unacceptable from an ethical point of view (for example, player injuries or conflicts with fans)
- Bets on referee decisions and other issues related to officiating (assignment of a referee, number of penalties, and so on)
- Bets on situations that depend only on one person and one game situation (for example, whether the quarterback’s first pass will be incomplete)
- Bets on events known in advance that could have been determined before the start of the match
The list of banned bets also includes so-called prediction markets—specialized platforms for betting on event outcomes, such as Kalshi and Polymarket. According to the text of the memorandum, “the use of prediction markets is equated to prohibited gambling activity.” It is again noted: the purpose of these measures is to protect the league’s reputation and minimize threats to the integrity of sports.
After clarifying the new rules, the question becomes relevant as to how bookmakers are reacting and how the changes will affect the betting market.
Bookmakers’ reaction and impact on the market
Analysts note that most major legal bookmakers in the United States previously did not offer a wide selection of banned prop bets on NFL games. Representatives of the betting industry, in comments to ESPN and Reuters, emphasize: “The ban mainly concerns exotic bets, which have never been on our list.” Companies welcome initiatives to strengthen control, considering them beneficial for the entire industry.
With increased attention from regulators to the transparency of sports betting, many users have begun to check whether services operate according to the same standards as licensed casino operators.
One of the criteria is the presence of live dealer games on gambling services. This indicates that such a service has the necessary license, because developers do not provide such games to online casinos without a license. We decided to get comments from the authors of resources where all online casinos have live dealer games, since we are confident that they have a license.
The authors of the popular site Twinspinca, which collects information about Canada live casino, noted that increased control will primarily affect operators who previously allowed questionable bet categories. According to them, the new NFL requirements should encourage services to adopt more transparent policies and abandon any bets that create a risk of manipulation. This will allow users to navigate a safer and more predictable market.
Experts in gambling regulation predict that no sharp changes are expected in the market, since the most dangerous and bets susceptible to manipulation have long not been approved by leading platforms. However, some believe that in the future, bans may become stricter and affect less popular bet categories.
History of scandals and violations
Historical experience shows that such scandals are not uncommon. The most famous case in the NFL occurred in 2022: receiver Calvin Ridley was suspended for the entire season for betting on games involving his team while injured. In 2023, several Detroit Lions players also received various punishments for similar violations.
Recent weeks have been marked by even more high-profile cases in other leagues. Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were accused of collusion and fraud—according to federal prosecutors, they could have influenced individual game events, using insider information to profit from bets. NBA player Terry Rozier also came under investigation after suspicions of colluding with betting partners and deliberately altering his statistics for the spread for certain bets. All the accused claim their innocence, and the investigation is ongoing.
These cases have raised serious concerns about how quickly the integrity of sports competitions may be at risk.
Opinions of experts and sports organizations
The reaction of the sports community was unanimous: most experts supported the tightening of control over prop bets. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) President Charlie Baker noted on his X account: “Very glad that the NFL has taken on this issue. The NCAA has been fighting prop bets for the second year. This is a direct risk to the integrity of competitions and a reason for insults against athletes.”
Sports analysts believe that such bets create temptation for players to influence individual events, maintain motivation to ‘play’ for the result, or pass insider information to third parties. This undermines fundamental trust in sports. According to many experts, the NFL’s policy may become an example for other professional leagues, including outside the United States, where similar problems are only gaining momentum.
Possible consequences for the league and players
After the tightening of rules, NFL clubs and staff face the question: will this change players’ behavior and attitudes toward betting in general? Compliance with new regulations is intended to strengthen the trust of fans, sponsors, and partners in the integrity of competitions, as well as to limit the temptation for manipulation.
Some experts do not rule out the possibility of similar control being tightened in other sports leagues, especially if scandals in MLB and NBA end with actual court decisions. How fans’ attitudes toward betting will change after recent events remains an open question, but many analysts expect increased interest in transparency and control in the industry.
In the near future, the NFL’s measures may become the standard for all professional sports, and further developments will depend on the effectiveness of control and the reaction of market participants.
