Ontario's gaming regulator reached a settlement with PointsBet Canada that includes a two-day suspension over its handling of suspicious bets involving banned NBA player Jontay Porter.
- PointsBet agreed to a two-day suspension, down from the five days originally proposed by the AGCO.
- The operator acknowledged offering bets on Porter 18 months after initially telling regulators otherwise.
- The settlement requires an independent audit and corrective action for any identified deficiencies.
The announcement confirmed that the settlement resolves proceedings stemming from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario's (AGCO) February 2026 proposal to suspend PointsBet's provincial registration for five days.
The February notice marked the first time the AGCO proposed suspending an operator in Ontario's regulated iGaming market, which launched in April 2022.
The AGCO accused PointsBet of a “systemic failure” to monitor, detect, document, and report suspicious betting patterns. The investigation centered on former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter, who deliberately limited his participation in games to help associates profit from bets on his statistical performance.
All licensed Ontario sports betting operators were asked to inform the AGCO if they had offered bets on Porter for select games, and if they had detected and reported questionable activity. After a significant delay, PointsBet told the AGCO it had not offered bets on Porter during the games in question.
It took until the public release of a U.S. Department of Justice indictment in October 2025 and an ensuing AGCO inquiry for PointsBet to acknowledge it had offered betting odds for Porter's prop lines.
PointsBet accepts reduced suspension
PointsBet initially challenged the proposed five-day suspension, arguing that the penalty was disproportionate to the circumstances.
PointsBet maintained that the reporting failures stemmed from human error, not deliberate concealment, and said it cooperated with the AGCO after identifying the issue.
“We have a strong compliance record in Ontario and remain fully committed to the highest standards of integrity and player protection,” Scott Vanderwel, PointsBet Canada CEO, said at the time. “We look forward to presenting our case.”
As part of the settlement, PointsBet agreed to undergo an independent audit conducted by an AGCO-approved auditor using an approved methodology. The company must address any findings, with its corrective measures independently validated.
The settlement concludes the regulatory proceeding stemming from the AGCO's February notice.
PointsBet has previously faced regulatory penalties in Ontario. In May 2022, the AGCO fined PointsBet $30,000 for violating advertising and inducement rules. The regulator imposed another $150,000 fine in November 2023 for violations of Ontario's responsible gambling standards.
