A shadow hangs over PointsBet Canada as Ontario’s gaming regulator moves to temporarily suspend their license. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) alleges a critical failure in the company’s handling of suspicious wagers linked to a high-profile NBA scandal, potentially sidelining them for five days.
The core of the issue revolves around a “systemic failure” to monitor, detect, and report unusual betting activity connected to former NBA player Jontay Porter. Regulators claim PointsBet didn’t adequately escalate concerns surrounding bets tied to Porter’s performance, a lapse that strikes at the heart of sports integrity.
The controversy ignited in early 2024 when allegations surfaced suggesting Porter was involved in an insider betting scheme, exploiting his own game statistics. The AGCO immediately directed all Ontario sportsbooks to investigate any bets placed on Porter and report anything deemed suspicious.
Initially, PointsBet informed the AGCO they hadn’t offered wagers on Porter’s games. However, this claim unraveled months later following a U.S. Department of Justice indictment detailing the broader scheme, prompting a second, more thorough review of their records.
Eighteen months after their initial response, PointsBet conceded they *had* accepted bets on Porter’s games. A subsequent AGCO investigation revealed that the operator’s internal controls should have flagged the unusual betting patterns as they occurred, but crucially, no report was ever filed.
Ontario’s iGaming regulations demand that sportsbooks act as a frontline defense against threats to sports integrity. Operators are obligated to promptly alert leagues, integrity monitors, and law enforcement to any betting activity suggesting match-fixing or manipulation.
“Safeguarding the integrity of sports and Ontario’s sports betting market is a top priority,” stated AGCO CEO Dr. Karin Schnarr. “We require all operators to have robust systems and comprehensive staff training to reliably detect and report suspicious activity.”
This isn’t PointsBet’s first brush with regulatory scrutiny in Ontario. The company faced fines in both 2022 and 2023, once for advertising violations and again for shortcomings in responsible gambling measures, painting a picture of recurring compliance issues.
The proposed suspension isn’t a foregone conclusion. PointsBet has 15 days to challenge the AGCO’s decision before the Licence Appeal Tribunal, an independent body tasked with adjudicating such disputes. The outcome will determine whether the suspension takes effect.
The wider NBA scandal culminated in a lifetime ban for Jontay Porter after an internal investigation confirmed violations of league gambling rules. The fallout continues to reverberate, highlighting the critical need for vigilance among betting operators and regulators in protecting the fairness of the game.
