Jontay Porter Banned For Life From NBA Due To Sports Betting Scandal

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY SportsThe NBA handed Jontay Porter a lifetime ban from the league for his role in a sports betting scandalThe two-way Toronto Raptors backup center was found to have violated league rules regarding sports bettingPorter disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, limited his own participation for betting purposes, and bet on NBA games

Jontay Porter, a two-way player for the Toronto Raptors, is officially banned from the NBA due to his role in a sports betting scandal.

The NBA announced today the decision to ban Porter after an investigation found the backup forward/center provided a sports bettor with confidential information, limited his participation in one or more games for betting purposes, and bet on several NBA games.

Most damning is the fact that Porter was found to have bet against the Raptors in a parlay while he traveled, but did not play, with the team earlier this year.

Protecting Sanctity of NBA Games

In a release from the league, Commissioner Adam Silver said the NBA will continue to work “diligently to safeguard our league and game.”

“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,” he said.

According to the finding’s of the NBA investigation, Porter placed at least 13 bets on NBA games using an associate’s online sports betting account. The bets ranged from $15 to $22,000, with Porter betting a total of $54,094 on the NBA. The total payout from the bets was $76,059, netting Porter $21,965.

The NBA bets were placed from January through March 2024 while Porter traveled with the Raptor or Raptors 905, Toronto’s G-League affiliate.

Porter was found to have placed three multi-game parlay bets during that time period, one of which included a Raptors game in which he bet they would lose. He did not play in the Raptors game he bet on.

Disclosed Information to Sports Bettor

The NBA became aware of suspicious betting activity surrounding Porter and his participation in a March 20 Toronto Raptors game against the Sacramento Kings. A sports bettor placed an $80,000 parlay proposition bet with an online sportsbook that included an under for Porter. Due to the unusual betting activity, the proposition bet was frozen and not paid out, which would have won $1.1 million.

The bets were brought to the NBA’s attention by licensed sports betting operators and an organization the monitors legal betting markets.

The NBA’s investigation found that Porter limited his participation in the matchup, playing only three minutes in the contest after claiming he felt ill. It also found that prior to the game he disclosed confidential information about his health state to an individual he knew to be an NBA bettor. He disclosed the information to another NBA bettor, who placed the $80,000 proposition bet in question.

The NBA noted that its investigation remains open and may result in further findings.