Investigators in Canada have opened a criminal investigation into the alleged NBA betting scheme involving Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter.
Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Robert Simpson confirmed the Canadian NBA betting probe in a statement to LSR Tuesday.
Four of Porter’s co-conspirators in the alleged scheme have already been identified and charged in a separate criminal complaint via the US Department of Justice.
Why NBA betting probe extends north
Simpson explained why Canadian authorities decided to open a formal investigation.
“The OPP Investigation and Enforcement Bureau (IEB) has completed their assessment of available information in relation to the reported online betting irregularities from the January 26 and March 20, 2024 Toronto Raptors games and have determined that a criminal investigation is warranted,” Simpson said.
“The OPP IEB is aware of the ongoing criminal investigation being conducted by Federal authorities in the U.S.A. and will be connecting with them as our investigation moves forward. As this is an ongoing investigation, in order to protect the integrity of the investigation, no additional information is being provided.”
Lawyer: Porter cooperating with feds
Porter received a lifetime ban from the league for violating NBA betting policy.
He is already cooperating with US investigators, his attorney told the Associated Press.
“Jontay is a good young man with strong faith that will get him through this,” said Porter’s attorney, Jeff Jensen. “He was in over his head due to a gambling addiction. He is undergoing treatment and has been fully cooperative with law enforcement.”
How NBA betting scheme worked
Porter allegedly owed significant gambling debts, and conspired with the four men by providing inside betting information to pay them off.
The 24-year-old player checked out of a pair of Toronto games with fake injuries.
As a result, related parlays placed on Porter by his co-conspirators would have paid out more than $1 million.
Chain to catch co-conspirators
DraftKings Sportsbook reported the suspicious prop bets involving Porter to the International Betting Integrity Association.
The IBIA then reported the activity to the FBI.
Porter allegedly owed money to a group including co-conspirator Ammar Awawdeh. Awawdeh allegedly provided fellow co-conspirator Mahmud Mollah with betting funds, including $80,000 on a parlay that would have netted over $1 million.
However, the account was frozen, and the bets were not paid out.
