After U.S. federal authorities laid charges against four men relating to alleged betting irregularities surrounding Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have begun their own criminal investigation.

Porter was banned for life by the NBA in April in an unprecedented case for the league. Porter was found to have been involved in betting on multiple league games, including two that he played in. He was shown to have provided insider information to other bettors for the purposes of gambling and to have manipulated his own performances, including leaving games early, to ensure multiple player prop wagers cashed in.

His permanent ban came after an investigation by the NBA that was initiated after DraftKings reported betting irregularities. The league’s probe found that Porter used an unnamed associate’s sportsbook account to place 13 bets on NBA contests. Betting on NBA games is strictly prohibited for all league players and staff.

The NBA cooperated with American federal prosecutors amid the league’s investigation and the work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) led to four alleged co-conspirators being charged.

OPP determined criminal investigation is warranted

North of the border, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) also announced at that time that it would be conducting its own investigation through the Investigation and Enforcement Bureau (IEB) of the OPP, which is an embedded division within the AGCO.

After that IEB investigation was completed, the provincial police has now determined that the case justifies a criminal investigation of its own. The OPP will consult with U.S. federal authorities to share information.

“The IEB has completed their assessment of available information in relation to the reported online betting irregularities from the January 26 and March 20, 2024 Raptors games and have determined that a criminal investigation is warranted,” Sgt. Robert Simpson told Canadian Gaming Business via email.

“The OPP IEB is aware of the ongoing criminal investigation being conducted by federal authorities in the U.S. 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.

Jeff Jensen, a lawyer representing Porter, said earlier this month that the player, “was in over his head due to a gambling addiction” and is undergoing treatment.