The NBA is investigating Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter for making fraudulent bets related to NBA games, including potentially betting on his own performance.
ESPN unveiled an investigation Thursday that includes details about the Raptors' Jan. 26 game against the Los Angeles Clippers. In that game, a proposition bet on Porter's number of 3-point shots “made him the biggest prize winner in a game betting on props on NBA players” that evening. Prop his bets, also known as in-play his bets, bet on specific events or outcomes within the game, such as the number of steals a player makes in the second quarter or the number of dunks a player makes.
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Porter's over-under on 3-point shooting on the night was 0.5. He didn't take a 3-point shot and was scoreless in four minutes. He was reported to have injured his eye and left the match. Porter played 19 minutes for the Raptors two nights later against the Atlanta Hawks.
In a similar pattern last Wednesday, Porter played three minutes in a game against the Phoenix Suns before leaving with an illness. He had no points and two rebounds, both of which were below the over/under prop bet for his play that night. According to ESPN, the prop bet on Porter that night was the No. 1 earner in the NBA. Porter missed the past two games for personal reasons.
The NBA prohibits players, coaches and other officials from betting on league events. The league can impose fines, suspensions, or bans on those found guilty.
Prop bets have long been a source of concern in legalized sports betting because they allow players to alter plays in ways that are not suspicious and do not cost their team victory. Players sometimes have a bad night shooting or get injured during a game. That is, when such events occur, they usually appear harmless. The NBA, like other major professional leagues, relies on internal officials as well as outside integrity experts to monitor and obtain information about misconduct.
In early 2024, New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boot was indicted in Louisiana on charges of computer fraud and game banning. Among his allegations is that he placed a prop bet on his own performance in a game for LSU, where he played in college. According to the data, he lost about $81,000 on bets over two years.
NCAA President Charlie Baker has been a vocal opponent of prop bets, warning that they lead to bettors harassing college athletes.
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