The NBA will communicate revised policies on cell phone and social media usage during games this week.
According to a report from SNY, the updates will build on the league's existing rules for cell phone usage, which were initially set in 2009 to enhance sports betting integrity and help teams stay focused on the competition.
Under the revised policy, NBA players and coaches will be unable to use their cell phones at any point during a match, from tipoff until the end. The current policy bans players and coaches from posting on social media starting 45 minutes before tipoff until post-game media obligations are complete. The ban also remains in place during halftime.
Exceptions will apply in certain circumstances, such as medical emergencies or arena security concerns. Additionally, each NBA team will designate an emergency point of communication for players and coaches during restricted times.
Sports betting integrity
Several NBA teams announced even stricter rules after the 2009 social media guidelines were introduced. The Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Clippers, and Milwaukee Bucks completely forbid social networking during “team time.”
The latest restrictions come amid several recent sports betting scandals in the NBA. In April, the NBA banned Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter for life for violating the league’s gambling policies. An investigation found that Porter limited his performance for betting purposes and
bet on NBA games himself. From Jan. to March this year alone, Porter bet more than $54,000 using an associate’s account.
Safeguarding players and bettors has become a top priority amid the proliferation of sports betting across the U.S. The American Gaming Association (AGA) reported that U.S. sports betting revenue reached a record-breaking $10.9 billion in 2023, up 44.5% from the previous year. Sports betting handle also rose 27.8% year-on-year to an all-time high of $119.8 billion.
As of 2024, 38 states and Washington, D.C., offer some form of legal sports betting. North Carolina was the most recent state to launch its legal market on March 11, 2024.
In 2014, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver made waves with a New York Times op-ed advocating for the legalization of sports betting. A decade later, Silver maintains his position despite emerging challenges.
“I still think you can't turn the clock back,” Silver said in an interview this week. He highlighted that illegal gambling had become too pervasive to ignore, and regulation was the only way to address it effectively.
