NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum Praises League For Tracking Betting Irregularities

NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum applauded the league's effort in recent months for tracking betting irregularities and working together with licensed operators to maintain integrity.

NBA banned Jontay Porter for betting on games, disclosing confidential information to bettors

In April, the NBA handed Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter a lifetime ban from the league after an investigation revealed he had disclosed confidential information to bettors, limited his participation in at least one game while he was with Toronto, and bet on NBA games while playing in the G League.

Porter reportedly placed at least 13 bets on NBA games using an associate’s online betting account. According to the league, the wagers ranged from $15 to $22,000, totaling $54,094.

The Missouri product waged $54,094 worth of bets from January 2024 to March 2024 while traveling with the Raptors or the team’s G League affiliate.

The NBA said the total payout from those bets was $76,059, with net winnings of $21,965. However, none of Porter's bets involved any in which he played.

Based on the league’s findings, three of the bets were parlays, including one that required the Raptors to lose. All three bets lost.

Mark Tatum said the league's framework for tracking betting activity creates transparency

A day after three men were charged in relation to Porter's gambling suspension, Tatum said the NBA framework for monitoring betting activity was working when it allowed the league to track and ban the player.

“The fact that we were able to look at certain irregularities in betting lines, and the data that we were able to receive from our partners allowed this to come into the light.

“We've always been, again, an advocate for a federal regulatory framework here. ... I think it creates transparency that we didn't previously, which allows us to maintain the integrity of the sport, which is essential to all sports leagues.”

Porter's ban was one of many for the five U.S. professional sports leagues. In MLB, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Andrew Saalfrank was one of five players to receive suspensions for gambling-related offenses this week.

San Diego Padres infielder/outfielder Tucupita Marcano received a lifetime ban, while four others — Saalfrank, Philadelphia Phillies infielder Jose Rodriguez, Oakland Athletics pitcher Michael Kelly, and San Diego Padres pitcher Jay Groome — were suspended for a year.

Marcano wagered more than $150,000 for 387 baseball bets. The league said he placed 231 MLB-related bets, including 25 of which were Pittsburgh Pirates games while he was a member of the Pirates. Since Marcano bet on games involving his team, he was banned for life.

More NBA players and other pro athletes will have to be surveilled now that sports betting has been legalized in more than 38 states and Washington D.C.