NBA and WNBA Will Air Gambling Risk Announcements
The leagues will launch a partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling for the 2026-27 season.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Basketball
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Should professional sports leagues partner with gambling companies while airing public service announcements about gambling risks?
The NBA and WNBA will debut a series of public service announcements highlighting the risks of sports betting during the 2026-27 season. This initiative aims to encourage fans to establish gambling limits.
Why it matters
The leagues are launching this campaign to address growing concerns regarding gambling risks and the potential for addiction. It serves as a response to intensified scrutiny over the leagues' long-standing financial ties to betting companies and recent high-profile gambling-related legal scandals.
The campaign will air across broadcast, linear, and social platforms including NBC, Peacock, Amazon, ABC, ESPN, and Disney+. This effort follows the 2021 agreement that established DraftKings and FanDuel as official league betting partners.
The players
Chauncey Billups
He is the former coach of the Portland Trail Blazers who faced arrest by the FBI for alleged illegal sports betting.
Damon Jones
He is an individual who pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud regarding sports betting activities.
Terry Rozier
He is a professional athlete who was indicted for his alleged involvement in point shaving.
Malik Beasley
He is a professional athlete who was indicted alongside others for point shaving charges.
National Council on Problem Gambling
This is an organization that works to minimize the harm caused by gambling and has partnered with the NBA and WNBA for this awareness campaign.
The details
The public service announcements will specifically urge fans to identify betting as a non-dependable revenue stream. These messages will be broadcast widely as the leagues navigate a complex environment involving sports betting scandals, including the indictment of Terry Rozier and Malik Beasley for point shaving.
Timeline
The U.S. Supreme Court legalized sports betting in 2018.
DraftKings and FanDuel became official league betting partners in 2021.
Damon Jones pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges in the spring of 2026.
The leagues will air the public service announcements throughout the 2026-27 season.
Season Trajectory
This initiative represents a pivot in how the leagues manage the balance between integrating gambling revenue and protecting the competitive integrity of the game. It addresses the growing pressure to mitigate the impact of recent player scandals on the league's reputation.
Fans will see these advisories during broadcasts on NBC, Peacock, Amazon, ABC, ESPN, and Disney+. The campaign encourages viewers to treat sports betting as entertainment rather than a reliable financial strategy.
The takeaway
The league-wide campaign marks a significant effort to shift the narrative around sports betting toward responsible engagement. Fans are encouraged to set strict financial limits and remain aware that betting carries inherent risks rather than guaranteed income.
Further reading
For more on the current state of professional basketball, visit the Basketball section.
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Should professional sports leagues partner with gambling companies while airing public service announcements about gambling risks?
