One of the golfers who received a PGA Tour suspension revealed on Friday that it was just $116.20 that led to his three-month ban. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
The continued expansion of legal sports betting in the United States has put the spotlight on athletes. Many people involved in professional sports have been banned for violating their leagues’ betting policy.
One of the most recent suspensions of this kind came on Friday when the PGA Tour announced that Vince India and Jake Staiano, both golfers on the Korn Ferry Tour, had received six-month and three-month bans, respectively, for betting violations.
Four bets totaling just $116.20
During an appearance on the “Any Give Money” podcast, Staiano shed some light on the issue. The 27-year-old explained that it was only four bets totaling $116.20 that led to his suspension.
One of those bets was a $25 bet in 2021 for Bryson DeChambeau to land a par-5 hole during a PGA Tour event. The other bets were on the same player when he played a televised head-to-head match in November 2021 against Brooks Koepka. Staiano did not believe this was a violation because it was an offer, and although he did not play either time, the PGA Tour prohibits players from betting on any affiliated events.
Staiano said he first spoke with an investigator about a possible violation in May 2023 before learning of his suspension in September. He called it a “career change” and doesn’t want others to make the same mistake.
