A Toronto Raptors player has been banned for life by the NBA for gambling.
The NBA released a statement Wednesday explaining the ruling against Jontay Porter, 24, a forward with the Raptor.
“A league investigation found that Porter violated league rules by disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes, and betting on NBA games,” the statement read.
Players caught gambling are dealt with seriously.
“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,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.
According to the NBC, an investigation revealed that Porter had engaged in widespread gambling, against league rules, NBC Newsreported.
“He allegedly ‘disclosed confidential information’ about his own health status to an individual he ‘knew to be an NBA bettor’ ahead of a March 20 game,” per the outlet.
The league also said Porter claimed to be sick during the game and only played three minutes.
NBC News also reported that an “$80,000 online bet was placed ahead of the March 20 game that he would underperform, which would have paid out $1.1 million — though that conspicuously large amount led to the wager being ‘frozen’ and ‘not paid out,’” the NBA said.
While traveling with the Raptors and the Raptors’ G League team, Porter placed about 13 bets on NBA games using someone else’s betting account, the league said.
The bets ranged from $15 to $22,000 for a total of $54,094.
“The total payout from these bets was $76,059, resulting in winnings of $21,965. None of the bets involved any game in which Porter played, but he did bet on the Raptors to lose as part of three different parlay bets. All three bets lost,” Yahoo Sports reported.
Porter hasn’t played since March 25 when the NBA started its investigation.
“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,” Silver said.
