PGA suspends duo for betting on tournaments
Vince India and Jake Staiano banned for six and three months respectively after violating PGA Tour Integrity Programme
The PGA Tour has suspended Korn Ferry Tour members Vince India and Jake Staiano after both placed bets on golf competitions.
India’s suspension began on 18 September and concludes on 17 March 2024, while Staiano’s ban began on 11 September and finishes on 10 December.
Staiano has yet to play on the PGA Tour while India has three tour starts and has made the cut once, with his career earnings to date standing at $7,305.
The duo have now been banned from PGA Tour-sanctioned events, with a statement clarifying that neither player bet on tournaments in which they participated.
However, the pair did place bets on PGA Tour competitions and in turn violated the PGA Tour Integrity Programme.
The programme was created in 2018 and states that any player, directly or indirectly, betting on any event is prohibited.
It adds that players giving inside information or being associated to “betting-related persons” could also face punishment.
High-profile sporting bans for gambling-related offences continue make headlines in the industry.
Last week, the NHL handed out its first ban for such offences in 80 years to Ottawa Sentators’ Shane Pinto.
The hockey star was handed a 41-game ban for placing bets on sporting events.
The NFL has seen 10 players suspended over the last 15 months, with the periods of time varying from case to case.
In Europe, Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali was slapped with a 10-month ban for betting on matches in which he played during his time with Italian club AC Milan.