Sports betting operator PointsBet is facing a five-day suspension in Ontario for its handling of suspicious bets related to the 2024 gambling scandal involving former NBA player Jontay Porter.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), which regulates online sports betting in the province, announced on Thursday that it issued a Notice of Proposed Order, which removes PointsBet Canada’s iGaming registration for that period.
Key Takeaways
- Regulators say PointsBet didn’t report suspicious betting activity when Porter was manipulating games.
- The operator has 15 days to appeal the suspension.
- This is PointsBet Canada’s third violation in Ontario.
The former Toronto Raptors player helped a group of bettors defraud sportsbooks when he agreed to manipulate his playing time so his under player prop bets would hit in 2024, earning him a lifetime ban from the league and an upcoming prison sentence.
The AGCO claims that the Australian-based sports betting operator failed to report suspicious betting patterns that could have identified the gambling scheme.
“The timely identification and reporting of such issues warn sports leagues, integrity monitors, regulators and law enforcement of potential integrity concerns,” the AGCO said in a release. “It also alerts gaming operators across the globe, which allows them to take necessary steps to protect their patrons from bets lacking integrity.”
PointsBet has 15 days to appeal the suspension to the License Appeal Tribunal, which acts independently of the AGCO.
“PointsBet Canada is disappointed by the AGCO's decision to propose a five-day suspension of our operator registration,” a PointsBet Canada spokesperson said in a statement to Covers.
“We respectfully believe the proposed sanction is disproportionate given the circumstances, our subsequent corrective actions, and our strong compliance record, and we are carefully reviewing all options, including our right to a hearing before the independent Licence Appeal Tribunal.”
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Untimely reporting
When the AGCO began investigating in early 2024, PointsBet told the regulatory body, following a lengthy delay, that it had not offered any Porter prop bets or detected betting irregularities.
After U.S. prosecutors released information about the case in 2025, the AGCO asked operators to reconfirm if Porter markets had been available. PointsBet then admitted that it had offered them, 18 months after regulators first questioned Ontario’s sportsbooks, and failed to meet regulatory requirements.
“Upon obtaining and reviewing PointsBet’s wagering data, the AGCO confirmed the indications of suspicious betting that was central to the scheme uncovered in 2024,” the AGCO said. “These wagers should have been detected and reported at the time the betting occurred.”
This is the first time the AGCO has used a suspension order as a punitive measure.
“The issues stem from an initial inaccurate response in March 2024, caused by human error during an organizational transition – not any intent to withhold information,” the company spokesperson said. “Upon discovering the correct data, we immediately disclosed it, cooperated fully with the investigation, and engaged proactively with the regulator.”
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) told Covers its investigation into the matter, first launched in June 2024, continues.
“That investigation is ongoing and to date, no charges have been laid. It would be inappropriate to comment on specific details to protect the integrity of the investigation and any ensuing court processes. As well, at this time, there is no other or new investigation,” said the OPP.
Operating past
PointsBet has been operating in Ontario since 2022 and experienced significant revenue growth in 2025. Most recently, PointsBet opened registration in Alberta in preparation for the province’s upcoming sports betting and iGaming launch.
This is PointsBet Canada’s third regulatory issue in Ontario. The operator was fined for advertising and inducement-related violations in 2022. PointsBet ran into trouble again in 2023 for not following through with responsible gaming protocol, which led to a $150,000 fine.
“Safeguarding the integrity of sports and Ontario’s sports betting market is a top priority for the AGCO,” said Dr. Karin Schnarr, CEO and registrar of AGCO. “We require all operators to have robust systems and comprehensive staff training in place to reliably detect and report suspicious activity. 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.”
