On Wednesday, the NBA handed down a lifetime ban to Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter after he was found to have violated the league’s gambling regulations.
According to multiple reports after an investigation, the NBA found out Porter “disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes, and betting on NBA games.”
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In a statement released by NBA commissioner Adam Silver he stated, “There is nothing more important than protecting the integrity of NBA competition for our fans, our teams and everyone associated with our sport, which is why Jontay Porter’s blatant violations of our gaming rules are being met with the most severe punishment.” He added, “while legal sports betting creates transparency that helps identify suspicious or abnormal activity, this matter also raises important issues about the sufficiency of the regulatory framework currently in place, including the types of bets offered on our games and players. Working closely with all relevant stakeholders across the industry, we will continue to work diligently to safeguard our league and game.”
Porter claimed to have fallen ill during the game and only played for three minutes, as stated by the league.
An $80,000 bet was made online before the March 20 game that Porter would have a poor performance, potentially winning $1.1 million. However, due to the unusually large amount, the wager was “frozen” and not paid out, according to the NBA.
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During his time with the Raptors G League affiliate from January to March, Porter allegedly placed at least 13 bets on NBA games using an associate’s online betting account, the league revealed. These bets ranged from $15 to $22,000, totaling $54,094, as reported by the NBA.
The union also reiterated its support of NBA gambling guidelines. “Adherence to league gambling policies is paramount to maintaining the integrity of our athletes and protecting the future of the sports,” according to a statement by the NBPA. “The NBPA will continue to provide all players with training materials to ensure they understand how to properly navigate the complex sports betting landscape.”
