Associated Press2 minute read
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Two members of the Korn Ferry Tour were suspended Friday for three and six months for placing bets on PGA Tour events, making them the latest professional athletes to be disciplined for sports betting.
Vince India And Jake Staiano, golfers on the PGA Tour development circuit, violated the “Integrity Program” by placing bets, the tour announced in a press release. Neither bet on the tournaments they were playing in, the tour said.
India was suspended from PGA Tour-sanctioned competitions for six months, from September 18 to March 17, 2024. Staiano was suspended for three months, from September 11 to December 10.
The PGA Tour said it would not comment further on the suspensions.
Ottawa Senators Forward Shane Pinto became the first modern-day NHL player to be penalized for sports gambling when he was suspended Thursday for 41 matches. The NHL said the suspension related to “activities related to sports betting.” The league said there was no evidence Pinto bet on NHL games, but it did not elaborate on the violation.
At least 10 NFL players were recently sanctioned for gambling, including wide receiver Calvin Ridleysuspended for the entire 2022 season to bet on league matches. The NBA and Major League Baseball have not announced any recent sanctions for gambling. The topic is a growing concern in college sports.
According to industry estimates, Americans have wagered more than $220 billion on sports since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed sports betting to be legalized in 2018.
India, 34, joined the Korn Ferry Tour in 2015 and has competed in 176 events. He has career earnings of $662,823 at all levels of the tour.
Staiano, 26, has competed in 17 Korn Ferry Tour events during his career and earned $30,910.
