NBA hits Jontay Porter with lifetime ban over illegal betting

The NBA has handed down a lifetime ban to Toronto Raptors’ two-way player Jontay Porter after an investigation revealed that he breached gambling regulations by disclosing confidential information and placing bets on games.

According to the league’s statement on Wednesday, Porter disclosed sensitive information about his health status to an individual known to be involved in NBA betting ahead of a game against the Sacramento Kings on March 20. Subsequently, another individual, also identified as an NBA bettor, placed an $80,000 parlay bet with an online sportsbook, anticipating Porter’s underperformance in the game with the potential to win $1.1 million.

Porter played only three minutes in the Sacramento game, citing illness. However, the suspicious betting activity and Porter’s actions led to the bet being flagged, frozen, and ultimately not paid out.

BREAKING: Jontay Porter has received a lifetime ban for violating the league’s gaming rules pic.twitter.com/bLyJuP8dXZ

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The NBA’s attention was drawn to the irregular betting patterns surrounding the March 20 game by licensed sports betting operators and a betting market monitoring organization. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver emphasized the paramount importance of upholding the integrity of NBA competition, stating that Porter’s violations of gambling rules warrant the severest punishment.

Silver also highlighted the broader issues raised by this incident, including concerns about the adequacy of the current regulatory framework for sports betting. He underscored the NBA’s commitment to collaborating with industry stakeholders to enhance measures aimed at safeguarding the league and its integrity.