Jontay Porter has received a lifetime ban from the NBA for breaching the league’s betting rules.
The American basketball association announced on Wednesday that the Toronto Raptors forward made bets on games in the league.
Porter is also adjudged to have provided bettors with confidential information and limited his involvement 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 sport, which is why Jontay Porter’s blatant violations of our gaming rules are being met with the most severe punishment.
“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, who signed a two-way contract with the Raptors in December, is said to have disclosed information on his health to someone that he knew bet on the NBA, according to The Athletic.
As well as this, another bettor he knew bet $80,000 to win $1.1million for the 24-year-old to underperform against the Sacramento Kings on March 20.
He only played three minutes during that game due to a claim that he felt ill, with the $80,000 be frozen as a result of unusual betting activity and Porter’s actions.
In addition, Porter was found to have placed at least 13 bets on NBA games from January to March 2024 via an online betting account of an associate.
A total of $54,094 worth of bets were made ranging from as low as $15 and as high as $22,000, with the total pay-out reaching $76,059.
The net winnings therefore sat at $21,965, although there were no bets made on games that Porter played in for the Raptors.
There were three multi-game parlay bets made and one of those included a Raptors game he bet they would lose – all three of the bets lost.
Porter is the first player to be permanently banned by the NBA since O. J. Mayo of the Milwaukee Bucks in 2016 due to his breach of their substance abuse policy.
Mayo smoked marijuana and abused painkillers and was handed a two-year ban but was able to be reinstated in 2018, although he hasn’t returned to the NBA.
News Summary:
- NBA ban Toronto Raptors man Jontay Porter for life after breaching strict betting rules
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