PointsBet Canada is fighting a five-day operational suspension proposed by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
The suspension traces back to an incident in 2024, when the AGCO claims that PointsBet did not promptly alert it to suspicious wagers involving banned NBA player Jontay Porter.
Key Takeaways
- The AGCO announced on Feb. 12, that it planned to suspend PointsBet.
- PointsBet was given 15 days to appeal the suspension.
- 18 months after PointsBet said it didn’t offer Jontay Porter props, it told the regulator it had offered prop lines.
PointsBet confirmed on Thursday that it will request a hearing before an independent tribunal to contest the proposed five-day suspension of its operator registration. It had previously said that it believed the sanction was “disproportionate” to the situation and would review its right to appeal the decision.
“We have a strong compliance record in Ontario and remain fully committed to the highest standards of integrity and player protection,” said Scott Vanderwel, PointsBet Canada CEO. “We look forward to presenting our case at the (Independent License Appeal Tribunal).”
PointsBet claims that the proposed sanction overemphasized an isolated incident that was a result of human error, not a systemic issue. The company also said that it did not intentionally withhold information from gaming regulators, and it immediately sent the necessary information once it was discovered.
The operator, which launched in Ontario in April 2022, also said that it cooperated fully with the AGCO’s investigation.
That flies in the face of the regulator’s assertion that the Australian-based company failed to report suspicious betting activity that could have unearthed the illegal activity.
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Why was the suspension proposed?
The Porter case resulted in the ex-Toronto Raptors center receiving a lifetime ban from the NBA and time behind bars.
An investigation revealed that Porter conspired with known sports bettors to limit his availability in multiple NBA games, allowing the individuals to win massive profits by betting the under on his player prop lines.
The AGCO began investigating the case in early 2024. It was told by PointsBet that the sportsbook had not offered any Porter prop bets or noticed any betting abnormalities.
When U.S. prosecutors released their findings a year and a half later, PointsBet then admitted that it had offered the prop bets.
“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 earlier this month. “These wagers should have been detected and reported at the time the betting occurred.”
This is the first time that the AGCO suggested a suspension as a punishment for an operator’s violation. However, it is PointsBet Canada’s third time running into regulatory troubles, following advertising failures in 2022 and responsible gaming shortcomings in 2023, the latter of which resulted in a $150,000 fine.
PointsBet grows in Canada
PointsBet announced earlier this month it has been approved by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) to pre-register customers ahead of the province’s legal sports betting launch.
The company, which offers sports betting and online casino gaming in Ontario, reported 26% growth in the province during FY2025, during which it overcame a $15.1-million EBITDA loss.
