It would seem like betting is still at large and even thriving, perhaps. The league’s decision to ban Jontay Porter, brother of Denver’s Michael Porter Jr., for life over his involvement in a gambling scandal shocked everyone. Under a two-way contract with Toronto, he had access to both the NBA and G-League affiliate teams’ information. The 24-year-old was accused of “disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes, and betting on NBA games.”

The authorities successfully caught one of the said bettors on Monday. Looking to flee the country on a one-way ticket, the cops nabbed the perpetrator trying to board a flight to Australia from the John F. Kennedy International Airport. The man, alleged to be a co-conspirator of Porter, is a Brooklyn native by the name of Long Phi Pham, also known as “Bruce”. He is 38 years old. Federal prosecutors alleged that Jontay had racked up considerable debt from gambling and ‘prop bets’ were his way out of a sticky situation.

Apparently, he was advised to take the easy route out. When the investigation was in full swing, the NBA found that Jontay Porter placed up to 13 bets using someone else’s account. They ranged from $13 to $22,000.

As per the New York Post, Pham had $92,000 on his person – $12,000 as cash in his bag and two cashier checks worth $80,000! Moreover, the feds are still on the lookout for three more people who were part of the whole plan. Coincidentally, this comes in the wake of another gambling incident just a day prior.

Jontay Porter isn’t the only one with betting issues and it looks like he won’t be the last, either…

No, don’t worry, it’s got nothing to do with the NBA or Jontay Porter, for that matter. Other than, of course, betting. MLB banned San Diego Padres shortstop, Tucupita Marcano, for life, for gambling over $150,000 on baseball. He was just one among several baseball players who faced a penalty. The others were minor league baseball players and, as per Rule 21 of MLB, “Any player who gambles on baseball is subject to a one-year suspension while anyone gambling on a baseball game in which they are connected is declared permanently ineligible.” Hence Tucupita Marcano got severely burned for his involvement.

With sports betting so easily accessible these days and the allure of easy money, it seems to have gotten to players’ heads. While it’s true that these athletes make more money than an average American, legalizing betting has allowed people to influence and manipulate these professionals. They are more or less in control, especially when it comes to in-game betting.

Just think of Porter. He used the Telegram app for communication to let his co-conspirators know of his moves. Two well-known instances, one against the Clippers and the second, vs the Kings, saw Jontay leave under four minutes. The first instance was a parlay prop bet that got a guy a $10,000 profit betting on under. As for the Sac game, they netted a whopping $1 million!

Then again, it isn’t just a short-term recourse. Gambling is a very real addiction, one that can destroy people, families, and careers, and in the case of athletes, bring a lot of backlash and negative attention to the leagues and teams. Yet, we can’t help but wonder whether it was just a coincidence that the man from the Jontay Porter case got caught right a day after MLB’s ban on Marcano.

What are your thoughts on the matter? Let us know what you think.