NBA Players Association president Fred VanVleet said sports gambling revenue makes up only about 1% of the basketball-related income shared by players and the league, calling it too small to justify the risks gambling poses to the sport.
“It’s not substantial enough to make it worth any of this,” VanVleet told the New York Times. “For us or for the league, quite frankly.”
VanVleet, 32, was elected union president last summer while recovering from a torn ACL and has since focused on limiting gambling’s growing influence, which he believes has expanded too quickly.
“Kind of feels like it’s gotten away from us a little bit,” VanVleet said. “A nice little campfire makes you feel warm. You got marshmallows and s’mores. But if it turns into a wildfire – that kind of feels like where we are right now.”
The union is weighing steps such as eliminating certain prop bets. Managing director David Kelly said the NBPA is prepared to push for reduced betting involvement if solutions with the league cannot be reached.
VanVleet also raised safety concerns, pointing to a viral video of a gambler confronting Golden State forward Jimmy Butler after losing a wager.
“If Jimmy escalates that situation and somebody’s got a gun on him, that’s real,” VanVleet said.
The NBA has had official gambling partnerships since 2018, when the Supreme Court cleared the way for legalized sports betting.
A league spokesperson said regulation ensures transparency and accountability compared to illegal markets.
NBPA President Fred VanVleet Says Sports Gambling Revenue Not Worth Risks To Players https://t.co/B9967QZ3yC
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