gaming regulator AGC of Ontario has proposed suspending PointsBet Canada for five days following the operator’s alleged failure to detect and report suspicious betting activity linked to the 2024 Jontay Porter betting scandal.
The penalty relates to PointsBet’s handling of wagering patterns during the NBA betting scandal that resulted in Porter’s lifetime ban from professional basketball.
Monitoring Failures
According to AGCO, while competing operators including DraftKings and FanDuel identified and reported irregular betting patterns on Porter’s performance statistics, PointsBet allegedly failed to flag suspicious activity including an $80,000 parlay wager on Porter underperforming.
The regulator directed all licensed operators to disclose any Porter-related wagering after the scandal emerged in March 2024. PointsBet initially claimed it had not offered such bets, but reversed this position following Department of Justice indictments — approximately 18 months after its original response.
PointsBet Response
PointsBet attributed the inaccurate initial response to “human error” during an organizational transition rather than deliberate concealment. The company stated it immediately disclosed corrected data upon discovery and has cooperated fully with the investigation.
“We respectfully believe the proposed sanction is disproportionate given the circumstances, our subsequent corrective actions, and our strong compliance record,” a spokesperson said.
PointsBet has 15 days to appeal the suspension to the Licence Appeal Tribunal. The penalty will not take effect unless upheld through the appeals process.
