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Jontay Porter Banned for Life from NBA Following Betting Investigation

Richardson Lilliana

Updated as of April 17, 2024 at 3:42 PM EDT, this article can be read in 2 minutes and 30 seconds. For more information, visit our Twitter and Google News links.

James Harden of the LA Clippers looks to pass as Jontay Porter of the Toronto Raptors defends during the second half of a game at Crypto.com Arena. Porter received a lifetime ban from the NBA following an investigation.
James Harden of the LA Clippers looks to pass as Jontay Porter of the Toronto Raptors defends during the second half of a game at Crypto.com Arena. Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images via AFP.

The NBA handed down a lifetime ban to Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter on Wednesday after completing an investigation into his actions.

The investigation into Porter revealed that he had shared confidential information with sports bettors, intentionally sat out of one or more games to place bets, and wagered on NBA games, specifically betting on the Raptors to lose.

Because it is crucial to uphold integrity on our top sports betting platforms, licensed sports betting operators and a legal betting market monitoring organization identified and reported suspicious bets related to Porter to the NBA.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued a statement after the investigation revealing the league’s conclusions and confirming Porter’s permanent ban from the NBA and its affiliated leagues, including the NBA G League.

In a statement, Silver emphasized the utmost importance of preserving the integrity of NBA competition for fans, teams, and all those involved in the sport. This is why Jontay Porter’s clear violations of our gaming rules will result in the most severe consequences.

League findings

The league initiated an investigation into Porter on March 25 for his involvement in several instances of betting irregularities over the past few months, including a specific game that raised concerns.

The NBA’s inquiry revealed that Porter shared private details about his health with a known NBA bettor before a Raptors game on March 20.

Based on the league’s investigation, it was discovered that a person known to be an NBA bettor, who was connected to Porter, placed an $80,000 parlay bet with an online sportsbook on March 20. The bet was placed in the belief that Porter would not perform well in the game, with the potential to win $1.1 million.

The league stated that Porter intentionally limited his playing time in games in order to affect the outcome of bets. The league verified that this occurred during the March 20 game, when Porter exited the game after just three minutes, citing illness.

The sportsbook identified suspicious betting behavior and player actions, leading to the freezing of the $80,000 parlay and withholding of payout, according to the league.

During the NBA’s investigation, evidence was discovered that Porter had placed multiple bets on NBA games from January to March 2024. Using an associate’s online betting account, he placed a total of 13 bets ranging from $15 to $22,000. The total amount bet was $54,094, with a total payout of $76,059.

Porter did not participate in any of the games, but three of the bets were multi-game parlays that involved wagering on the Raptors to be defeated.

Fallout of betting scandal

The NBA has reported that these findings are the result of the information currently known to league investigators and that the investigation is ongoing, possibly leading to additional discoveries.

According to the statement, the league has shared and will continue to share information with federal prosecutors regarding this matter.

Silver stated that legal sports betting provides transparency to detect suspicious activity, but also highlights concerns about the adequacy of the current regulatory framework, such as the types of bets available on games and players. He emphasized the importance of collaborating with industry stakeholders to protect the league and its integrity.

Before the NBA announced Porter’s ban, Raptors President Masai Ujiri discussed the issue on Wednesday.

Ujiri expressed his disappointment in the situation, stating, “This is not what we want for the child, our team, or our league. My initial reaction is one of surprise, as I don’t believe anyone expected this to happen.”

Porter is the latest professional athlete under investigation for sports betting, following a series of suspensions handed out by the NFL last offseason. This included indefinite suspensions for Isaiah Rodgers Sr., Rashod Berry, and Demetrius Taylor.

Written By:
Richardson Lilliana
Rob is a Publishing Editor at Underscoreg Review. He’s been with the team since early 2024, with this being his first full-time role in the sports betting industry. Before joining UnderscoregReview.com, he contributed to various sports outlets, including FanSided and Pro Football Network. During that period, he spent five years working full-time as a local community journalist, after attending Durham College for journalism and Wilfrid Laurier University for history. He previously hosted an NFL draft and college football-focused podcast where he had the opportunity to interact with future NFL players such as Maxx Crosby and Quinn Meinerz. Rob has spent multiple years working as a freelance podcast producer for numerous sports-related podcasts while making guest appearances on several college football shows. He’s also made guest appearances on SportsTalk Mississippi on several occasions to talk all things NFL draft. Rob values the way sports betting acts as a catalyst for telling stories and growing interest in certain sports, particularly FCS football, WNBA, and mid-major college basketball. He’s always been drawn to the more obscure teams and conferences in major college sports, but most of all, Rob loves using stats to find the best player props to back.