With sports betting legal across the US, the NBA is embracing it by forming partnerships with major betting providers. Official data is the centerpiece of these relationships, and it could help bolster NBA betting odds. But that’s not the only change the league is making to its approach.

Before the Supreme Court ruled on sports betting, the league fought to keep it restricted to Nevada. Now, it’s embracing it and taking the lead on things like betting odds, lines and point spreads that used to be pushed back behind the scenes.

If the odds for a team/player are higher than +200, that means they’re considered the favorite to win. If the number is lower than +200, that means they’re the underdog.

The Supreme Court’s decision to open the door for sports betting sparked new efforts in some states to regulate it. In Ohio, in-person and online sportsbooks launched in December of 2021 and allowed wagering on pro and collegiate teams. In neighboring Oklahoma, Gov. Kevin Stitt’s plan to allow sports betting at tribal casinos and a state-regulated online market was defeated in the November 2022 elections.

The NCAA will advocate for changes to state sports betting laws that protect student-athletes from harassment and coercion by bettors, address the negative effects of problem gambling and enhance the integrity of college competition. In addition, the association will oppose efforts to impose integrity fees on sportsbooks that include official data in their odds.