PointsBet fights betting Ontario suspension over NBA scandal

"Regulators allege the company failed to properly identify and report suspicious wagers connected to a 2024 NBA betting scandal involving former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter. That broader matter is now part of criminal investigations in the United States. According to our reporting, the AGCO concluded that PointsBet did not escalate unusual betting activity quickly enough, a lapse the regulator argues undermines safeguards designed to protect the integrity of sports wagering in Ontario's fast-growing online market."

"PointsBet, however, says the regulator's proposed penalty goes too far. In a new statement, the company characterized the issue as a single, inadvertent mistake rather than a systemic breakdown in compliance. Executives say the error has already been addressed and that the operator worked cooperatively with the AGCO throughout its review."

"The AGCO's move is seen as one of the rare instances in which Ontario's regulator has sought to temporarily suspend a licensed operator, underscoring the seriousness with which it treats reporting obligations tied to suspicious betting patterns."

PointsBet Canada formally appealed Ontario's Alcohol and Gaming Commission decision to temporarily suspend its iGaming registration for five days. The AGCO alleged the operator failed to properly identify and report suspicious betting activity connected to the 2024 NBA scandal involving former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter, now under U.S. criminal investigation. Regulators determined PointsBet did not escalate unusual betting activity quickly enough, compromising sports wagering integrity safeguards. PointsBet characterized the issue as a single inadvertent mistake with strong overall compliance, claiming the error was addressed and cooperation with regulators occurred throughout the review. The company appealed to the Licence Appeal Tribunal to halt the suspension pending case review.

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