The Jontay Porter saga has taken over the news cycle as of late. The former Toronto Raptor was alleged to have been involved in an NBA betting scandal, and on Wednesday, the Association dropped the hammer.
Porter was banned from the NBA for life following an investigation by the league. Among the findings discussed in an NBA press release were that Porter had disclosed information about his health to a known gambler prior to a game in mid-March, and that Porter had bet on 13 NBA games through an associate’s online gambling account.
More on the Jontay Porter situation
Porter’s health status was at the center of a suspicious $80,000 prop bet placed prior to Toronto’s game on March 20. The NBA says a known gambler placed that wager to win $1.1 million, correctly assuming Porter would underperform and fail to reach the totals listed by an online sportsbook.
That night, Porter played just three minutes and claimed he was ill. That $80,000 wager was frozen and not paid out due to the suspicious nature of the gambling activity.
In addition, the NBA says Porter’s own bets placed earlier this year totaled more than $54,000, and that he won more than $21,000. Three of those wagers were parlays including the Raptors, all of which saw Porter wager that the team would lose.
The importance of responsible gambling
The NBA release says these wagers were brought to the league’s attention by licensed, regulated operators. These online sportsbooks work with the league and flag suspicious activity, such as the $80,000 prop bet focusing on Porter’s performance last month.
As part of his quote in the league’s release, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver noted:
“Working closely with all relevant stakeholders across the industry, we will continue to work diligently to safeguard our league and game.”
Responsible gambling measures on legal, regulated sportsbooks help ensure those who should not be betting on games don’t. These efforts are, by and large, not taken by offshore betting sites, where games and bettors are not subject to the same protective measures.
These measures also include help for those dealing with gambling problems. Players can opt into self-exclusion lists, “cooling off” periods, and limit-setting measures where their activities are either stopped or significantly controlled.
Each licensed, regulated sportsbook has installed measures to provide assistance. Contact your sportsbook of choice to learn more about the resources that are available.
