Jontay Porter has been banned for life from the NBA for violating the league’s betting rules.
The American Basketball Association announced Wednesday that the Toronto Raptors forward had bet on championship games.
Porter is also accused of providing bettors with confidential information and limiting his participation in games for the purpose of gambling.
In a statement, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said: “There is nothing more important than protecting the integrity of NBA competition for our fans, our teams and everyone associated with our sports. This is why Jontay Porter’s blatant violations of our playing rules are met with the harshest punishment.
“While legal sports betting creates transparency that helps identify suspicious or anomalous activity, this issue also raises important questions about the sufficiency of the regulatory framework currently in place, including the types of bets offered on our games and our players.
“Working closely with all relevant industry stakeholders, we will continue to work diligently to protect our league and our game.”
Porter, who signed a two-way contract with the Raptors in December, allegedly disclosed information about his health to someone he knew had bet on the NBA, according to The Athletic.
On top of that, another bettor he knew bet $80,000 to win $1.1 million for the 24-year-old to underperform against the Sacramento Kings on March 20.
He played only three minutes in that game due to a claim that he felt ill, with the $80,000 frozen due to unusual betting activity and Porter’s actions.
Additionally, Porter was found to have placed at least 13 bets on NBA games between January and March 2024 through an associate’s online betting account.
A total of $54,094 in bets were made, ranging from $15 to $22,000, with the total win reaching $76,059.
The net winnings were therefore $21,965, although no bets were made on any games Porter played for the Raptors.
There were three parlay bets on multiple games and one of them included a Raptors game that he bet they would lose – all three bets lost.
Porter is the first player to be permanently banned by the NBA since OJ Mayo of the Milwaukee Bucks in 2016 due to his violation of their substance abuse policy.
Mayo smoked marijuana and abused painkillers and received a two-year ban, but was able to be reinstated in 2018, although he did not return to the NBA.
Jontay Porter has been banned for life from the NBA for violating the league’s betting rules.
The American Basketball Association announced Wednesday that the Toronto Raptors forward had bet on championship games.
Porter is also accused of providing bettors with confidential information and limiting his participation in games for the purpose of gambling.
In a statement, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said: “There is nothing more important than protecting the integrity of NBA competition for our fans, our teams and everyone associated with our sports. This is why Jontay Porter’s blatant violations of our playing rules are met with the harshest punishment.
“While legal sports betting creates transparency that helps identify suspicious or anomalous activity, this issue also raises important questions about the sufficiency of the regulatory framework currently in place, including the types of bets offered on our games and our players.
“Working closely with all relevant industry stakeholders, we will continue to work diligently to protect our league and our game.”
Porter, who signed a two-way contract with the Raptors in December, allegedly disclosed information about his health to someone he knew had bet on the NBA, according to The Athletic.
On top of that, another bettor he knew bet $80,000 to win $1.1 million for the 24-year-old to underperform against the Sacramento Kings on March 20.
He played only three minutes in that game due to a claim that he felt ill, with the $80,000 frozen due to unusual betting activity and Porter’s actions.
Additionally, Porter was found to have placed at least 13 bets on NBA games between January and March 2024 through an associate’s online betting account.
A total of $54,094 in bets were made, ranging from $15 to $22,000, with the total win reaching $76,059.
The net winnings were therefore $21,965, although no bets were made on any games Porter played for the Raptors.
There were three parlay bets on multiple games and one of them included a Raptors game that he bet they would lose – all three bets lost.
Porter is the first player to be permanently banned by the NBA since OJ Mayo of the Milwaukee Bucks in 2016 due to his violation of their substance abuse policy.
Mayo smoked marijuana and abused painkillers and received a two-year ban, but was able to be reinstated in 2018, although he did not return to the NBA.