Published on: February 15, 2026, at 02:52h.
Updated on: February 15, 2026, at 02:52h.
- AGCO halts PointsBet Canada’s operations for five days
- PointsBet Canada explores options, potential appeal on the table
- Sportsbook operator faces allegations of “systemic failures” regarding the Jontay Porter NBA scandal
In a surprising turn of events, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) announced a five-day suspension of PointsBet Canada’s gaming registration, citing systemic lapses associated with an NBA insider betting controversy. However, the PointsBet Canada platform continued to operate normally this morning.
I attempted to place a wager on the Over/Under for the Canada/France Olympic men’s hockey matchup (9.5) this morning and experienced no issues accessing the PointsBet Canada application.
In the nearly four years since the Ontario regulated market came into existence, this marks the first occasion the AGCO has issued a Notice of Proposed Order in the igaming sector.
Jontay Porter Betting Controversy
“This is not the conclusion of the matter,” a senior source disclosed to Casino.org. “It could escalate significantly.”
PointsBet Canada has a 15-day timeframe to contest the AGCO’s ruling before the Licence Appeal Tribunal. Given the industry’s response to the suspension’s severity, speculation arises regarding the company’s willingness to pursue an appeal. No official stance on their next steps has been communicated yet.
“PointsBet Canada is disheartened by the AGCO’s decision proposing a five-day suspension of our operating registration,” a spokesperson for PointsBet Canada stated.
The suspension imposed by the AGCO stemmed from an alleged systemic inability to effectively oversee, identify, document, and report suspicious betting behaviors linked to Jontay Porter in 2024.
Rozier Indictment
Porter, once a player for the Toronto Raptors, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud after intentionally underperforming in two Raptors games in early 2024 in collusion with gamblers. Facing a possible 20-year prison sentence, he awaits sentencing and is banned from the NBA for life.
Porter remains a focal point in an ongoing U.S. criminal investigation into allegations of improper betting linked to several professional sports leagues. NBA player Terry Rozier has also been indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering following an FBI sweep against sports betting in October. Rozier has pleaded not guilty.
Emergency AGCO Measures
Two Major League Baseball athletes, Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, are poised to stand trial this May on charges including wire fraud, conspiracy to influence sports outcomes through bribery, and money laundering due to their alleged involvement in a scheme to manipulate bets on MLB pitches. Similar allegations surrounding odd betting have also surfaced in the UFC.
The AGCO indicated that following the emergence of insider betting allegations involving Porter in early 2024, it directed all Ontario-regulated sportsbooks to verify whether they had accepted bets on Porter and if they had identified any suspicious betting patterns. According to AGCO, PointsBet Canada, after a significant lapse, claimed it had not offered such bets.
After news of widespread FBI arrests came to light in October, implicating Porter in a broader NBA betting scheme, the AGCO instructed Ontario sportsbooks again to confirm whether suspicious betting activity had transpired concerning Porter wagers.
Only at that time, a full 18 months after the original response, did PointsBet Canada acknowledge that it had, in fact, offered betting on Porter during those games.
Source: Situation May Deteriorate
Upon obtaining and analyzing the wagering data from PointsBet, the AGCO validated the suspicious betting at the heart of the 2024 Porter scheme. Accordingly, the AGCO contended that those bets should have been identified and reported as they occurred.
“Protecting the integrity of sports and Ontario’s sports betting market is our highest priority,” said Dr. Karin Schnarr, CEO and Registrar of the AGCO.
“We mandate all operators to implement robust systems and extensive staff training to reliably detect and report suspicious activities. Our regulatory framework is explicit—operators must be capable of identifying and effectively addressing integrity risks, and we will take appropriate action when these criteria are not fulfilled.”
“Inadequate Management” by PointsBet Canada
Phill Gray, a former sports betting operations chief at Sports Interaction, criticized the AGCO’s actions as an “excessive overstep.”
“As per licensing compliance in Ontario, there was a requirement to engage with the IBIA (International Betting Integrity Association), and PointsBet reportedly complied. The failure to report the wagers indicates a management oversight. However, I don’t view it as anything sinister. The volume of questionable wagers was limited, and once the news broke, props would have been removed,” he explained.
“That’s a hefty penalty for this mismanagement. I’ve interacted with the AGCO regarding some questionable esports betting, and it was rather straightforward to audit the wagering history to demonstrate compliance with IBIA and rectify the situation. In my opinion, this doesn’t warrant such a reaction,” he added.
Canadian Gaming: PointsBet’s Standing
The tone of PointsBet Canada’s official statement mirrored Gray’s sentiments.
“The concerns arose from an initial inaccurate response in March 2024, attributed to human error during a transitional phase within the organization—not with any intention to conceal information. Upon discovering the accurate data, we promptly reported it, fully cooperated with the investigation, and proactively engaged with the regulator,” the company spokesperson remarked.
“We respectfully contend that the proposed penalty is excessive considering the circumstances, our corrective measures, and our robust compliance history. We are meticulously evaluating all options, including our right to a hearing before the independent Licence Appeal Tribunal,” they concluded.
Stay connected for further updates.