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David Purdum, ESPN Staff Writer
Colorado gaming regulators are investigating whether Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter has had betting accounts with any of the state’s sportsbooks and if they were used for betting on the NBA, according to a directive obtained by ESPN.
The Colorado Division of Gaming issued the directive to sportsbooks Thursday, instructing operators to immediately report any potential wagering on “NBA affiliated games” by accounts connected to Porter.
The Colorado Division of Gaming did not immediately respond to a request for comment from ESPN.
Porter is under investigation by the NBA after unusual betting activity was detected on over/under prop wagers on his statistics in two games. The reserve center has not played since March 22.
Multiple sportsbooks, including FanDuel and DraftKings, detected a spike in betting interest on the unders on Porter’s statistics in a Jan. 26 game against the LA Clippers and again on March 20 against the Sacramento Kings. Porter left both games after playing only a few minutes, citing the re-aggravation of an eye injury in the Clippers game and a sickness against the Kings.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Wednesday that Porter could face a complete ban from the NBA if any impropriety was discovered.
“That’s the level of authority I have here,” Silver said at the league’s annual board of governors meeting. “Because there’s nothing more serious, I think, around this league when it comes to gambling: betting on our games. And that is a direct player involvement. And so, the investigation is ongoing, but the consequences could be very severe.”
Porter is the younger brother of Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr.