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For the first time in its history, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has taken action against PointsBet Canada, issuing a Notice of Proposed Order to suspend its iGaming registration for five days.
The move follows what the regulator described as a systemic failure to monitor and report suspicious betting activity tied to the 2024 NBA bet‑rigging scandal involving Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter.
AGCO said PointsBet initially denied offering bets on Porter, only to later admit, 18 months after its first response, that such wagers had been available. When the regulator reviewed the data, it confirmed betting patterns that should have been flagged at the time.
“Our regulatory framework is clear—operators must be equipped to detect and effectively respond to integrity risks, and we will take appropriate action when these standards are not met,” CEO Dr. Karin Schnarr stated.
PoinstBet a repeat offender
This latest sanction adds to PointsBet’s history of regulatory breaches in Ontario, including penalties in 2022 and 2023 for advertising and responsible gambling violations.
The Porter case first surfaced in early 2024, which led to the AGCO demanding that operators confirm whether they had offered bets on the player. PointsBet’s delayed and inaccurate response became a focus once the U.S. Department of Justice released its indictment in October 2025, revealing the scandal was part of a larger insider betting scheme. Porter was given a lifetime NBA ban and has since pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
The operator now has 15 days to appeal the suspension to the Licence Appeal Tribunal, an independent body under Tribunals Ontario.
AGCO’s framework requires operators to maintain strong systems and staff training to identify risks.
“Safeguarding the integrity of sports and Ontario’s sports betting market is a top priority for the AGCO. We require all operators to have robust systems and comprehensive staff training in place to reliably detect and report suspicious activity,” Schnarr added.
PoinstBet says proposed sanction is ‘disproportionate’
PointsBet Canada has pushed back against the regulator’s move, saying it is “disappointed by the AGCO’s decision to propose a five-day suspension of our operator registration.”
In a statement to CTV News Toronto, the company explained that the problem began with “an initial inaccurate response in March 2024, caused by human error during an organizational transition, not any intent to withhold information.”
The operator stressed that once the correct data was identified, it “immediately disclosed it, cooperated fully with the investigation, and engaged proactively with the regulator.” PointsBet also argued that “the proposed sanction is disproportionate given the circumstances, our subsequent corrective actions, and our strong compliance record.” The company confirmed it is “carefully reviewing all options, including our right to a hearing before the independent Licence Appeal Tribunal.”
