Date of Posting: February 26, 2026, at 04:35h.
Last Update: February 26, 2026, at 04:37h.
- PointsBet Canada faced a five-day suspension from the AGCO on February 12.
- The operator has officially announced its intention to appeal the decision to the License Appeal Tribunal.
- The suspension is linked to alleged improper handling of suspicious betting related to the Jontay Porter scandal.
PointsBet Canada has declared its intention to contest the decision made by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) regarding its five-day suspension.
Five-Day Suspension Overview
On February 12, the AGCO announced a Notice of Proposed Order that resulted in a five-day suspension of PointsBet Canada’s operator registration due to alleged mishandling of the Jontay Porter betting scandal. The AGCO accused PointsBet of failing to adequately monitor, detect, and document suspicious betting activities related to Porter in 2024.
“Ensuring the integrity of sports and the sports betting landscape in Ontario is of utmost importance to the AGCO,” stated Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of AGCO, on February 12. “We expect all operators to have robust systems and comprehensive employee training to effectively detect and report suspicious activities. Our regulatory guidelines are straightforward—operators must be equipped to identify and respond to integrity risks, and we will take necessary action when these requirements are not fulfilled.”
Following early 2024 allegations of insider betting involving Porter, the AGCO instructed all Ontario-based sportsbooks to verify whether they had offered bets on Porter and if they detected any suspicious betting activities. According to the AGCO, PointsBet Canada initially reported that it had not offered such betting options after a “notable delay.”
Links to the Porter Gambling Scandal
After the revelation of nationwide FBI arrests last October—including Porter as part of a broader NBA betting scheme involving fellow players Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups—AGCO sent a follow-up communication to Ontario sportsbooks for re-confirmation on suspicious betting related to Porter markets.
It was only after a year and a half since its first response that PointsBet Canada acknowledged it had indeed offered betting on Porter’s games, which was the reason for the AGCO’s suspension, marking a notable incident for licensed sportsbooks in Ontario.
PointsBet’s Appeal to the Tribunal
PointsBet Canada has 15 days to challenge the AGCO decision to the License Appeal Tribunal, with the deadline approaching swiftly.
Insiders have indicated that the PointsBet Canada management believes the proposed sanction is overly harsh relative to the circumstances, attributing it to human error by a relatively inexperienced trader.
The company stated today that the matter at hand does not reflect a systemic failure within the organization or any intent to conceal information.
After identifying the mistake, PointsBet Canada claims it promptly disclosed the issue and fully cooperated with the AGCO during the investigation.
AGCO’s Commitment to Protecting Integrity
We maintain a strong compliance history in Ontario and are steadfast in our commitment to the highest levels of integrity and player protection,” shared Scott Vanderwel, Chief Executive Officer of PointsBet Canada. “We anticipate presenting our case before the Tribunal.”
Updates will follow as this situation develops.
Porter has pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy after deliberately underperforming in two Raptors games in early 2024, working with gamblers to exploit prop bets. Facing a potential 20-year prison sentence, he awaits sentencing. The NBA has suspended him for life, although he recently announced his participation in the new United States Basketball League.