• Loading stock data...
Thursday, June 12, 2025

NBA’s Lifetime Ban Highlights Surge in Gambling-Related Incidents

  • Jontay Porter’s lifetime ban marks a crescendo of escalating incidents across the industry.
  • Despite many leagues’ efforts to create clear rules for players, constant vigilance is required.
John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

In the nearly six years since the broad legalization of sports betting in the U.S., it was almost inevitable that a lifetime suspension like the one handed down by the NBA on Raptors center Jontay Porter (above) would eventually happen.

The last two years in particular have seen both a rising number of threats across sports, domestically and abroad, as well as a rising number of player suspensions across many major sports leagues. Sports data company Sportradar put a finer point on the rising threat, when it said recently that suspected match fixing remains a concerning issue around the world, and that it is increasingly using artificial intelligence to detect fraud. 

Among the recent flash points in what remains a rising tide of gambling-related infractions: 

  • The recent federal bank fraud charges levied upon Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, marking a manifestation of a serious sports betting addiction that left Mizuhara more than $40 million in debt. 
  • Suspensions of 10 NFL players last year for various gambling-related infractions, highlighted by season-long bans for a trio of Colts players, and following a similar season-long penalty for Jaguars receiver Calvin Ridley in 2022. That spate of violations prompted the NFL to heighten its gambling penalty and enforcement structure, with specific rules also in place for this February’s Super Bowl in Las Vegas.
  • The NHL’s suspension last fall of Senators forward Shane Pinto for half a season for “activities related to sports wagering.”
  • Former Jaguars employee Amit Patel was sentenced to six-plus years in prison for embezzling more than $22 million from the NFL team, and he said he has been struggling with a serious gambling addiction.
  • Even without a specific penalty involved, there have been several other concerning signs, including J.B. Bickerstaff, coach of the NBA Cavaliers, saying he and his family have been threatened by gamblers, and Pacers star Tyrese Halliburton saying he feels like a “prop” and that his social media has been dominated by gambling chatter.

Challenging Backdrop 

These incidents arrive as sports betting overall continues to soar to unprecedented heights, reaching record levels of revenue and total handle in 2023. As nearly every major sports league has built an extensive portfolio of gambling-related business relationships—sparking accusations of hypocrisy among some fans—those leagues have also sought to create a bright line marking what is and isn’t permissible for players. To that end, NBA commissioner Adam Silver called Porter’s conduct a “cardinal sin” threatening the integrity of the league. 

The Porter lifetime ban shows both the powerful allure of sports betting, even for a highly paid NBA player, and the need for constant enforcement vigilance. Perhaps ironically, Silver was the first among his peers to call nearly a decade ago for widespread legalization and regulation of sports betting. And now he again sits in a history-making place.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NBA Finals Ratings Rise in Game 3, but Still Trail Recent Years

The Pacers lead the Thunder, 2–1, in the Finals.
Tom's Watch Bar

How the Pacers and Caitlin Clark Boosted One Bar’s Bottom Line

Tom’s Watch Bar hosted John Haliburton for at least five games.
breaking

Potential Goodell Successor Brian Rolapp Leaves NFL for PGA CEO Job

Rolapp is the architect of the NFL’s 11-year, $111 billion media deals.

$2.4B Browns Stadium Plan Clears Hurdle With $600M State Backing

Legislative support for the stadium plan is clear, but more hurdles remain.

Featured Today

Jan 24, 2017; Davidson, NC, USA; The Davidson Wildcats student section cheers during the first half against the Duquesne Dukes at McKillop Court at John M. Belk Arena. Davidson defeated Duquesne 74-60.

Every College Wants a Flashy Basketball GM Hire Right Now

The role is more important than ever, and the definition is ever-evolving.
August 31, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; The Goodyear blimp flies over Ohio Stadium during the first half of Saturday’s NCAA Division I football game between the Akron Zips and the Ohio State Buckeyes.
June 6, 2025

Why the Goodyear Blimp Is at Every Major Sports Event

The airship wasn’t built to cover sports. Now it’s a regular presence.
May 27, 2015; Paris, France; Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) knocks the clay off her shoe during her match against Simona Halep (ROU) on day four of the French Open at Roland Garros
June 4, 2025

Roland-Garros’s Iconic Red-Clay Surface Is a Precise Alchemy

The exact science behind maintaining the French Open’s red clay.
Alex Jensen introductory press conference on Monday, March 17, 2025.
June 3, 2025

Alex Jensen Started Utah Utes HC Job While Still Coaching the Mavs

How Jensen began building an NCAA program while patrolling the Dallas sideline.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker speaks after giving his annual State of the State address on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, in Springfield.
June 2, 2025

Illinois Passes New Sports Betting Tax in Middle of the Night

This is the second straight year Illinois approved a tax increase on sportsbooks.
May 1, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; A general overall view as Dallas Mavericks and LA Clippers players run across the Clippers logo at midcourt in the first half during game five of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena.
June 6, 2025

Kalshi’s Momentum Fuels Crypto.com’s Fight Over Sports Markets

Crypto.com cited a recent Kalshi court victory in its own fight against Nevada.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Ted Leonsis unpacks basketball’s global rise, media rights, and portfolio ownership.
May 18, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) looks to shoot against Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby (5) during the first quarter at Crypto.com Arena.
May 27, 2025

Napheesa Collier Is Odds-On WNBA MVP Favorite After Caitlin Clark Injury

Collier and Clark had been close in the odds.
Sports are shown on TVs behind a bar as guests enjoy the grand opening of DraftKings Sports & Social in Ohio.
May 9, 2025

DraftKings, FanDuel Interested in Sports Prediction Markets

Sports betting giants are eyeing sports “prediction” markets.
United States District Court, District of New Jersey. Federal Courthouse in Newark. on Thursday Feb. 11, 2021. Newark Federal Courthouse
April 29, 2025

Kalshi Gains More Legal Momentum With Early New Jersey Win

Kalshi has begun racking up early legal victories as it defends its sports event contracts.
Apr 22, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) shoots the ball over Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) during the third quarter of game two of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena.
April 23, 2025

Kalshi’s Offensive Blitz Continues With Suit Against Maryland

Kalshi previously sued regulators in Nevada and New Jersey.