Porter Scandal Spurs Major Leagues to Demand Stricter Betting Controls
A month after the NBA was rocked by a gambling scandal involving alleged manipulation, officials from major sports leagues are calling for changes to betting menus and limits offered at U.S. sportsbooks, according to ESPN.
Interviews with league and gambling industry sources reveal that there is a push for more stringent controls to prevent similar incidents in the future.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s Stance
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, the first major U.S. sports league commissioner to publicly support the legalization of sports betting, emphasized the importance of regulated sportsbooks.
Silver told ESPN that regulated betting helps protect the integrity of the league and enhances the ability to detect irregularities.
However, he also called for sports leagues to have more input into the terms and types of bets offered, stressing the need for further collaboration among industry stakeholders.
The Jontay Porter Incident
On April 17, Silver banned Jontay Porter from the NBA for violating the league’s gambling policy. Porter, a former Toronto Raptors player, was accused of manipulating his participation in a March 20 game against the Sacramento Kings to influence bets placed on his statistics.
This case, being reviewed by authorities in both Canada and the U.S., is the first formal allegation of manipulation since states began legalizing sports betting and has sent shockwaves through professional sports leagues.
Industry Reaction and Proposed Changes
The sports betting industry argues that the system is effective because it identifies illicit activity, but leagues and critics are concerned that the new market may be causing the issues.
In the wake of the Porter scandal, the NBA and its partner sportsbooks, including FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM, are discussing changes to betting menus to prevent future corruption.
Proposed changes include prohibiting betting on players with two-way contracts and considering bans on “under” bets on player props.
Other major leagues are also re-evaluating their betting strategies. The NFL has discouraged betting on events like missed field goals and penalties, the NHL has restricted bets on subjective statistics, and the NCAA has successfully lobbied to ban player props involving college athletes in some states.
Major League Baseball is closely monitoring prop bets, particularly those on the first pitch of games, and is concerned about the limits on such bets.
Legal vs. Illegal Betting Markets
Despite legalization, the underground betting market continues to thrive, taking in an estimated $63.8 billion in bets in 2022.
Some argue that limiting certain bets in the legal market could drive bettors to illegal sportsbooks. DraftKings’ Chief Compliance Officer Jennifer Aguiar highlighted the positive impact of regulated sports betting, stating that an outright ban on certain player proposition bets would only strengthen the illegal market.
Silver and other league officials have advocated for a uniform federal structure to oversee sports betting, rather than the current state-by-state approach.
Two federal bills have been introduced, one focusing on advertising and the other on funding for gambling addiction treatment. However, the gambling industry, which opposes federal intervention, has significant influence in Washington, and Congress has shown little interest in getting involved.
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