Another pro athlete investigated for gambling
Raptors’ Porter facing NBA probe over prop bets
Something eventually is going to have to give. Another pro athlete is being investigated for gambling, this time in the NBA. The NBA is investigating Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter for potential prop bet irregularities, according to sources from ESPN’s David Purdum, Brian Windhorst, and Adrian Wojnarowski.
Now, I thoroughly understand leagues wanting to ensure athletes aren’t betting on their own games and performance. Obviously, that opens the door for massive fraud and fixing of games. However, these players aren’t dumb, they see the league making millions from partnering with sportsbooks and will want in on the action.
Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter: “Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter is out of the lineup and a subject of an NBA investigation into irregularities on prop betting involving him, sources tell @DavidPurdum, @ESPNWindhorst and me. Story soon. pic.twitter.com/DncBNbDptW / Twitter”
Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter is out of the lineup and a subject of an NBA investigation into irregularities on prop betting involving him, sources tell @DavidPurdum, @ESPNWindhorst and me. Story soon. pic.twitter.com/DncBNbDptW
Specific games being targeted
The NBA is investigating the Toronto Raptors’ games against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 20 and the Los Angeles Clippers on January 26. Additionally, Porter will not be playing against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday due to personal reasons. He also missed Toronto’s defeat against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. Porter is the younger brother of Michael Porter Jr., who plays for the Denver Nuggets, who recently announced his retirement.
Ongoing Theme
Ever since the explosion of betting apps, we’ve seen more and more athletes being investigated for possible gambling infractions. Shohei Otani is in the news because his interpreter possibly stole money from him to cover gambling debts.
Are Leagues Overstepping Boundaries?
The most recent scandal with Porter seems to be a legit reason to investigate. He possibly bet on games that he was involved in, however, let’s look at the leagues arguably overstepping their boundaries.
Calvin Ridley, 2022
The NFL issued an indefinite suspension to Ridley which caused him to miss the entire 2022 season. The Falcons’ receiver was found to have bet on NFL games during a five-day period from November 23 to 28.
Prior to this, Ridley had taken a leave from the Falcons to address mental health issues. It was confirmed by the NFL that he was not an active player when he made the bets, although he did place bets on Falcons’ games.
On Twitter, Ridley admitted to betting a total of $1,500 on the games and stated that he does not have a gambling problem.
Jameson Williams, Quintez Cephus, C.J. Moore, Stanley Berryhill & Shaka Toney, 2023
These five players — four Lions and one Commander (Toney) — were all suspended on April 21, 2023 after the NFL ruled that the players have violated the league’s gambling policy.
However, only three of them were suspended indefinitely: Cephus, Moore and Toney.
Williams and Berryhill were each suspended for six games. Why? Because they had just bet on non-NFL games while inside an NFL facility; the others had actually bet on NFL games.
Seriously? The facility that probably has “Draft Kings” plastered all over it?
Is a no betting policy just?
I’m not talking about “no betting” when it comes to the league you play in, but no betting whatsoever? Ok, you could argue these guys probably don’t need to bet, but many of us spend money on things we don’t need. Why is the league permitted to suspend someone without pay just for gambling, a practice that is now practically legal everywhere?
Where does it end? Can they tell these players they can’t date, or drink on days off? Again, I am all for banning the practice of gambling on your own games, and even the league you play in, but these pro leagues capitalize off these players and then try and control far too much of their lives.
The cases above involved players that weren’t playing. Do they really know more than Vegas, or skilled gamblers? Personally, if the player isn’t betting on his own team, I still think it’s fine.
Not a new issue
Lest you thought this was a modern issue, Alex Karras missed the 1963 season after admitting to placing “at least a half dozen $50-$100 bets.” Karras wasn’t the only player suspended for the 1963 season. Paul Hornung, the 1961 NFL MVP, was also banned from the league for a year after then-commissioner Pete Rozelle revealed Hornung had bet “up to $500” on NFL games, per ESPN.
Perhaps the most notable gambler was Art Schlichter in 1983. During his college days, Schlichter began betting on horse racing and later, other sporting events. He carried over his gambling habits to his pro career and this spiraled out of control from there. Schlichter lost a whopping $389,000 from January to March of 1983, per the Indy Star. That led NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle to suspend him for the 1983 season.
Stigma is gone
However, the stigma of gambling is gone. Professional leagues are in bed with the sportsbooks. I feel it’s time to freshen up the rules for these athletes. Many are rich, young, and looking for fun. Draw the line somewhere, but eventually, I think you’re going to need to allow them to gamble on something without hefty suspensions.