NBA Hands Lifetime Ban to Jontay Porter for Gambling Infractions

The investigation into Porter revealed severe breaches, including sharing confidential health information, which directly influenced betting activities.

Incident Details and Investigation Outcomes

The investigation pinpointed a specific incident on March 20, where Porter, after disclosing private health details to a bettor, played only three minutes in a Raptors game due to illness.

A substantial bet of $80,000 was placed on his underperformance for that game on DraftKings, which would have yielded $1.1 million in winnings.

DraftKings rejected this bet due to its suspicious nature. Further inquiry uncovered that this was not an isolated incident. Similar betting patterns were noted in previous games, notably on January 26, suggesting a recurring use of insider information.

Additional Findings and Betting Behavior

Apart from the disclosed incidents, Porter was found to have made approximately twelve bets on NBA games through an associate’s account, summing up to around $55,000, with winnings totaling about $22,000.

Notably, these bets included one against his own team, the Raptors, which, while not involving games he played in, still constitutes a breach of trust and professional responsibility.

NBA’s Stance and Future Steps

Commissioner Silver stressed the importance of preserving the integrity of NBA competitions. He pointed out that while legal sports betting offers transparency that assists in identifying suspicious activities, this case also raises critical concerns regarding the adequacy of current regulatory frameworks.

“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 leagues and game,” said Silver.