NBA Commissioner Adam Silver recently spoke on the topic of NBA betting during the league’s board of governors meeting. He reflected on how sports betting has evolved since he first voiced support for its broad legalization nearly a decade ago.
Silver acknowledged that his views on NBA betting have evolved, stating, “Yes, I would just say on most subjects I think it’s constructive that my opinions are constantly changing, because hopefully I’m learning and there’s new information available.” However, he reiterated that his initial stance in favor of legalized sports betting remains the same.
Legal sports betting has expanded to over 30 states in the U.S., and Silver emphasized the importance of regulation to ensure it remains a controlled and safe activity.
“I still think you can’t turn the clock back,” Silver said. “With the advent of the internet, widely available sports betting online… we had to deal directly with technology and recognize that if we don’t legalize sports betting, people are going to find ways to do it illegally.”
Despite the progress, Silver expressed frustration with the current state-by-state approach to sports betting, calling for a more unified, federal framework.
“I still think that the hodgepodge of state by state, it makes it more difficult for the league to administer it,” he said. Silver pointed out that competition between states, such as New York and New Jersey, leads to varying tax rates and regulatory environments, making it more challenging for the league to oversee the process effectively.
While legalized betting has benefited the NBA, Silver highlighted its downsides. He spoke on the negative aspects, including the potential impact on vulnerable individuals, saying, “We have to pay a lot of attention to that, what’s potentially going on at college campuses, certainly people betting over their heads.”
He also noted growing concerns about underage betting and the influence of gambling on fan behavior in arenas, which has led to incidents involving players and coaches. “We’ve heard… incidents of players or coaches, people directly involved in the game, complaining about things that are being yelled at them or feeling unsafe in a certain way in the environment they’re in because of sports betting.”
Silver emphasized that education remains a key part of the NBA’s approach to handling these challenges. The league works directly with sports betting companies to ensure a safer environment for players and fans alike.
Additionally, Silver discussed the potential of artificial intelligence in monitoring betting activities, explaining that the technology can help detect abnormal patterns. “AI will play a huge role here because when you have more data like that, you can see unusual behavior,” he said, underlining the league’s commitment to using data to ensure transparency and integrity.
Though betting has increased fan engagement with the NBA, Silver pointed out that it is not a significant revenue stream for the league. “It’s not a huge business for us in terms of a revenue stream into the league, but it makes a big difference in engagement,” he stated. However, he reaffirmed the need for strong regulations to prevent people from encountering problems related to excessive gambling.
