The NBA has handed down a lifetime ban to Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter for violating the league’s gambling rules. The league’s investigation found that Porter disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, limited his own participation in games for betting purposes, and placed bets on NBA games.
Specifically, Porter purposely limited his playing time in a game against the Sacramento Kings to influence the outcome of bets on his performance. He also disclosed confidential health information to a known NBA bettor and had an associate place bets on him underperforming in a game against the Nets.
During the months of January through March 2024, Porter placed at least 13 bets on NBA games using someone else’s account, ranging from $15 to $22,000. He won a total of $21,965 from these bets, with none involving games in which he played. However, he did bet on the Raptors to lose in three different parlay bets, all of which were unsuccessful.
Porter, 24, has not played since the NBA began investigating him for these betting irregularities on March 25. The Raptors removed him from the lineup before a game against the Brooklyn Nets, and he has not returned to the court since. The league’s decision to ban Porter for life sends a strong message about the seriousness of violating gambling rules in professional sports.