Jontay Porter handed ban by the NBA for violating gambling rules

Toronto Raptors star Jontay Porter has been hit with a ban from the NBA after an investigation found he had violated the league’s betting rules.

Porter has not played for the Raptors since allegations reported by ESPN last month claimed there were betting irregularities relating to prop markets on the two-way forward in two separate games.

A league investigation ensued which has since found that Porter had disclosed information to a sports bettor, “limited his own participation in one or more games” for betting purposes, and placed wagers on NBA games.

The length of the ban has yet to be disclosed.

According to the league statement, against the Sacramento Kings on March 20, a game in which the Raptors lost 123-89, Porter gave an individual who placed bets on the NBA a “health status.”

Another NBA bettor placed a $80,000 parlay prop bet with an online sports book that Porter would underperform his props – the bet would have won $1.1m.

The investigation also found that in the same game, Porter left the game after three minutes after claiming he was ill. 

The statement read: “Due to the unusual betting activity and actions of the player, the $80,000 proposition bet was frozen and was not paid out.”

Between January and March 2024, the investigation found Porter placed at least 13 bets on NBA games ranging from $15 to $22,000 for a total of $54,094. Porter was traveling with the Raptors’ G League affiliate Raptors 905 at the time.

The total payout of the bets was $79,059, which would have seen net winnings of $21,695. Of the bets, three were multi-game parlays including one Raptors game which Porter placed money on the team to lose. All three bets lost.

The statement added: “”The suspicious bets involving Porter’s performance in the Raptors’ March 20 game were brought to the NBA’s attention by licensed sports betting operators and an organization that monitors legal betting markets.

“These findings are based on the information available to league investigators at this time. The league’s investigation remains open and may result in further findings. The NBA has shared and will continue to share information with federal prosecutors about this matter.”

NBA commissioner Adam Silver commented that due to betting on the NBA, Porter was given a severe punishment.

Silver said: “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 league and game.”

Porter was accused last month of betting irregularities surrounding player prop bets involving himself between January 26 and March 20, 2024.

According to ESPN, DraftKings confirmed the day after the Raptors played the LA Clippers on January 26, the under on Porter’s three-pointers was the “biggest money winner for bettors of any NBA player prop bets from games that evening.”

Porter played for four minutes that game before leaving due to an “aggravation” to an eye injury picked up days prior against the Memphis Grizzlies.

In another game on March 20, against the Sacramento Kings, Porter played for three minutes before leaving the game due to “illness.” He had two rebounds and no points.

DraftKings once again confirmed that prop bets on Porter were the biggest moneymaker in the league that night.