Gambling
Former Toronto Raptors Player Pleads Guilty To Gambling Scheme After Being Banned From NBA
Topline
Former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of wire fraud conspiracy related to a gambling scheme in which he bet on NBA games and gave other bettors information about his health, leading to him being permanently banned from the league.
Jontay Porter C of Toronto Raptors fights for a rebound with Lindy Waters III R of Oklahoma City … [+]
Key Facts
The former Raptor, who his lawyer has said struggles with gambling addiction, entered his guilty plea at his arraignment at a New York federal court and was released on a $250,000 bond, the Associated Press reported.
Porter was given a lifetime ban from the league in April over the gambling scandal, with the NBA saying in a press release an investigation found he had disclosed “confidential information to sports bettors” and had limited his participation in one or more games for betting purposes.
Porter is set to be sentenced in December and will likely have to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in restitution and potential fines and, though the charge carries up to 20 years in prison, Porter agreed not to appeal a sentence of less than five years, ABC News reported.
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Crucial Quote
At his arraignment Wednesday, Porter reportedly expressed remorse, saying, “I knew what I did was wrong and unlawful and I’m deeply sorry for my conduct.”
Big Number
$59,094. That’s how much Porter bet on NBA games—though none were games in which he played—using an associate’s online betting account from January through March, the league said. The total payout from the bets was $76,059, resulting in $21,965 in winnings.
Key Background
Porter played for the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2020-21 season, then played in the NBA G League before playing for the Raptors last season. Though sports betting has become legal in more states in recent years, the NBA does not allow its players to bet on league games. The NBA began investigating Porter after it identified a number of irregular bets involving him, including increased betting interest on props involving him in a January game in which he played for just four minutes before leaving due to injury. After a March 20 game in which Porter also played only a couple of minutes and left early, his props were the biggest money winner for NBA player props on DraftKings.
What To Watch For
What happens to Porter’s alleged co-conspirators. Four other people have been charged related to the scheme and have been arraigned but not entered pleas, according to the AP.
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