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Former NBA player Jontay Porter wagered more than $50 million on FanDuel between September 2021 and November 2023, according to a New Yorker profile examining his gambling addiction and the role of sportsbook VIP incentives.
The feature, by Nick Berardini, reports that Porter placed 2,803 bets exceeding $1,000 during that period. It traces how his betting escalated alongside mounting financial losses, secrecy and attempts by his family to intervene.
FanDuel VIP incentives come under scrutiny
According to The New Yorker, FanDuel assigned Porter a VIP host who provided bonuses and credit that encouraged him to continue betting. The profile describes one $10,000 bonus and reports that Porter came to view the relationship as a reason to stay with the sportsbook.
Porter also bet through a friend’s DraftKings account and used offshore casino sites, the story reports. He described being drawn to the speed and intensity of live betting, particularly table tennis.
The feature examines these experiences within a broader critique of app-based betting and VIP programs. It references lawsuits and investigations alleging that sportsbooks use personalized incentives and algorithmic targeting to keep people with gambling problems betting. Those claims are allegations, rather than findings established by the profile.
Gambling losses prompted family intervention
The New Yorker reports that Porter initially concealed his gambling from his wife, Kelli Kingma, who later discovered it and tried to intervene. His losses included $500,000 borrowed against a house, according to the profile.
Porter’s family staged an intervention and paid for a 30-day treatment program in Florida. He subsequently signed with the Toronto Raptors in December 2023 and returned to the court, but his gambling continued, the story reports.
If gambling is causing financial or personal harm, consider stopping and seeking professional support.
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Source: As reported by The New Yorker.
