PointsBet Canada is challenging the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario’s (AGCO) decision to suspend its online casino and sportsbook for five days, following allegations that the operator failed to properly identify and report suspicious betting activity linked to former NBA player Jontay Porter.
Regulatory action
On 12 February, AGCO announced the suspension after it revealed a “systemic failure” by PointsBet to identify suspicious wagers involving Porter. The NBA soon banned the former Toronto Raptors player in April 2024, accusing him of manipulating his own performances. He later pleaded guilty in the United States to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He admitted that he intentionally withdrew early from games to benefit bettors, according to several media reports.
PointsBet has now requested a hearing before Ontario’s independent Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT) to challenge the ruling.
Company response
In a 26 February statement, PointsBet Canada CEO Scott Vanderwei defended the company’s compliance record, emphasising its commitment to integrity and player protection. For now, the operator remains fully licenced in Ontario and continues to offer online gaming services while the appeal process unfolds.
The hearing between both parties will be conducted before an adjudicator (or panel) where they will present their arguments, evidence, and witness testimony. While hearing follows LAT’s procedure rules, it is however less formal than court trials. Depending on the complexity, this hearing can take weeks to months before it resolves.
Sequence of events
PointsBet initially reported in March 2024 that it had not offered bets on Porter. But it was later acknowledged that wagers were available in October 2025. It attributed the lapse to human error during an organisational transition, according to several media reports.
Once the activity was discovered, PointsBet said it immediately reported it and cooperated with AGCO’s investigation. The NBA found Porter had disclosed confidential health information to bettors, deliberately limited his own participation in games, and placed bets on NBA contests himself.
Porter pleaded guilty to felony wire fraud in July 2025 and was sentenced in December of that year. This marks the first time AGCO has suspended a licenced operator for a violation. PointsBet had previously been fined for unrelated infractions in 2022 and 2023.
Market performance
Despite regulatory challenges, PointsBet’s Canadian operations have continued to grow. Revenue rose 34 percent year-over-year in the first half of the Australian fiscal year (July–December), reaching CAD 22.2 million. Gross profit increased 30 percent to CAD 10.8 million, according to iGaming Business.
iCasino net win surged 58 percent to CAD 15.6 million, while sports betting net win held steady at CAD 6.6 million. The company attributes growth primarily to its Ontario iCasino platform and plans to launch an upgraded version in the coming months. The data underscores that Canada’s online casino segment is driving growth, offsetting stagnation in sports betting.
Expansion plans
In early 2026, Alberta passed Bill 48 (iGaming Alberta Act), which establishes a regulated online gambling framework, resulting in making Alberta the country’s second open-market province after Ontario.
Regulated online casinos and sportsbooks are expected to go live later in 2026 under the oversight of the Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission (AGLC). PointsBet has already applied for a licence and begun marketing activities, including player sign-ups, in anticipation of entering the market by mid-2026.
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