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Is the NFL Banning Prop Bets?

A new memo from the league office could change the way you wager on NFL prop bets. After the MLB and the NBA were rocked by betting scandals, the NFL is pushing its sports betting partners and lawmakers to restrict the types of bets available to fans. 

Keep reading to learn more about the recent attempts to crack down on NFL prop betting. I explain the league’s recent moves and explore how this could affect NFL bettors in the near future. 

What Does the NFL Prop Betting Memo Say

The recent NFL gambling memo does not outlaw prop bets. After all, the league has little to no say over what wagers licensed sportsbooks can provide. 

However, the NFL league office did send a memo to its sports betting partners regarding the types of props they offer. In the memo, the league outlines specific types of NFL gambling props it does not want offered. NFL officials also expressed their opposition to prediction market sites, like Kalshi and Polymarket.

The purpose of the memo was to reemphasize the league’s commitment to the integrity of NFL games. It was sent out after the NBA and MLB were both hit by gambling scandals in recent weeks.  

Which Prop Bets Does the NFL Want Restricted or Removed?

In the memo sent to team officials, the league highlighted four types of prop betting markets it wants to see eliminated. 

• Derogatory or inflammatory wagers, such as bets relating to player injuries or fan safety, or misconduct
• Props related to officiating, including assignments, replays, and penalties. 
• Bets that could be determined by a single player on a single play in the game, such as the outcome of a quarterback’s next pass. 
• Props whose outcome could be predetermined, such as a team’s first play from scrimmage. 

How Scandals in MLB and the NBA Triggered This Crackdown

Apart from a dozen or so players being suspended for violating the NFL’s gambling rules of conduct, the league has mostly avoided major betting scandals. Sadly, the same cannot be said for the MLB and the NBA. 

The FBI has ongoing investigations into both the MLB and the NBA for illegal gambling operations. Some of the issues being investigated include:

• Guardians pitchers Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase allegedly took bribes to throw select pitches and make specific props win. 
• Portland head coach Chuancey Billups allegedly gave information to bettors about starting lineups. 
•  Terry Rozier is accused of faking an injury and leaving a game early after conspiring with others to bet on his “unders” in select props. The incident happened in March of 2023 while Rozier was playing for the Hornets.

These incidents highlight the exact types of bets the NFL identified in its memo to league offices. In theory, eliminating these props would prevent similar schemes from being attempted in the NFL. 

What This Means for Sportsbooks and Bettors in 2025

The NFL’s prop betting memo does not mean much for bettors yet, but it could in the coming years. 

Protecting the integrity of the league is paramount. As a result, protecting the sports betting integrity in the NFL is also important. So, it comes as no surprise that the NFL is attempting to learn from other leagues’ mistakes and get ahead of the problem. 

The NFL does not operate any sportsbooks, but it partners with them. Also, as mentioned in the memo, the NFL is working with lawmakers across the US to change what types of bets are permissible. 

If the league succeeds, then bettors in select states or members of specific sportsbooks the league works with could be unable to access certain props. Player props are extremely popular and thus profitable for sportsbooks, though, so it is unclear if any of the league’s betting partners will comply with their request. 

This is not unprecedented. After all, many states already prohibit their in-state operators from offering props on college sports for similar reasons. 

The top offshore sportsbooks, though, are unlikely to restrict the props they offer to adhere to the NFL’s demands. 

Will the NFL Ban Prop Bets?

NFL prop bets are here to stay, for now. However, the league is doing its best to crack down on microbets that have created issues in the NBA and MLB in recent years. Wagers related to injuries, officiating, and bets on single-player actions could be the first on the chopping block. 

The recent memo sent out by the league will not change anything right away. However, it shows that the league is aware of the potential dangers these bets could pose to the integrity of the league if a player, coach, or official gets in bed with the wrong people. Taking action now could prevent a major NFL betting scandal in the future.