Should Pro Athletes Bet on Their Games?

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Here’s the Scoop

Jontay Porter, a two-way player recently under contract with the Toronto Raptors, has been permanently banned from the National Basketball Association (NBA) for breaching the league’s strict gambling policies.

The decision came after an extensive investigation revealed that Porter engaged in activities aimed at manipulating game outcomes to influence bets on his own performance.

The investigation uncovered that Porter limited his playtime, including a notable instance during a March 20 game against the Raptors, where he participated for only three minutes citing illness. However, it was later revealed that he had shared confidential health information with an NBA bettor prior to the game.

This individual, along with another bettor acquainted with Porter, placed an $80,000 parlay bet predicting Porter’s underperformance, which could have yielded $1.1 million. Due to the suspicious betting pattern, the large bet was frozen and remains unpaid.

From January to March 2024, while traveling with the Raptors and their G League affiliate, Raptors 905, Porter was found to have placed at least 13 bets on NBA games, including bets as high as $22,000, totaling $54,094, using an associate’s online betting account.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver emphasized the league’s commitment to integrity, stating, “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.”

The commissioner also pointed out that while legal sports betting enhances transparency and aids in identifying unusual activities, this incident highlights the need to review the regulatory framework governing sports betting, including the types of allowable bets on games and players.

The NBA has indicated that the investigation into this matter is ongoing and could lead to further findings.

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