Jontay Porter’s Effect on Sports Betting

By Matt Speakman,
Betting Expert at online-gambling.com

Matt Speakman Betting Expert at online-gambling.com

A die-hard fan of the Patriots, Matt Speakman is an expert on everything related to sports betting and DFS sites. Over the years, he has proven a valuable asset for our team at online-gambling.com. You can find Speakman's professional tips and tricks in any of his many articles on the website.

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Last updated: November 5, 2024

While the former Toronto Raptors reserve player Jontay Porter has been banned from the NBA, his admission to participating in fixed sports betting schemes has hurt the industry. Many sportsbooks will no longer offer “under” bets for specific players, which will limit options and may even affect other props.

Our team of experts has researched the story to learn more about the case and the consequences. Check out this article to learn about the NBA’s response and the new sportsbook rule. You can also learn how this will affect future prop bets and the players.

Brief Background

Before going over the case, we will provide some background information. Jontay Porter began his professional career in 2020 for the Memphis Grizzlies but would end up going through several teams, the last being the Toronto Raptors. Despite his previous injuries, the Grizzlies believed he had serious potential, similar to some of the best fantasy basketball adds. Here is a brief rundown of his career:

• Memphis Grizzlies (2020 – 2021) – waived after 11 games
• Denver Nuggets (2022) – played during the 2022 NBA Summer League
• Wisconsin Herd (2022 – 2023)
• Detroit Pistons (2023) – waived on October 21st
• Motor City Cruise (2023)
• Toronto Raptors (2023 – 2024)

While playing for the Raptors, he was on a two-way contract as a reserve member. His performance across 26 games was suspiciously poor, averaging only 4.4 points. In January and March, he would also leave his games after playing for only a few minutes, citing illnesses. After a few tips from sportsbooks, the NBA launched an investigation on suspicion of fixing games.

Jontay Porter Rule

After three weeks of investigating, the NBA discovered Porter would disclose information about his condition to bettors and intentionally underperformed to fix stats. It was found that at least three other men were also involved in the scandal. Since then, Porter has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and could face up to 20 years in prison and additional fines.

While the NBA has banned him for life, it has also introduced the Jontay Porter Rule. According to the report, sportsbooks will no longer have “under” bets for players with two-way contracts. Regular players will not be affected, but there are concerns that this rule could have some negative effects.

Aftermath of The Rule

Many people approve of this change as they believe it will help protect the integrity of NBA games. A few critics wonder why prop bets on such players were allowed, as they are typically kept in reserve and don’t see much play. They also hope this will prevent other players from intentionally performing poorly to win bets.

However, some express concerns over the future of other markets. Similar bets in other sports, like football or women’s basketball, could also be removed. Additionally, one-way markets give sportsbooks an advantage, and setting fair prices is more complicated. There are even concerns this could push gamblers to seek offshore sportsbooks instead of licensed ones.

Conclusion

While it’s unlikely that sportsbooks will abandon “under” bets entirely, the scandal has led to many discussions about sports betting. Some demand the NBA continue to tone down its promotion of sports betting. Others believe this shows the transparency and reliability of legitimate sportsbooks. Regardless, we will monitor this rule to see how it will affect future markets.