The gaming regulatory body in Ontario, Canada, recently issued a hefty fine to PointsBet Canada—proposing a suspension of its iGaming registration for 5 days. The reason is that the company failed to promptly detect, record, and report suspicious betting related to NBA player Jontay Porter's match-fixing case. This is the first time since the opening of Ontario's online gaming market that a suspension has been imposed for a breach of "integrity". Simply put, it's not that the betting itself was problematic, but rather that a problem was discovered and not reported as required. The regulatory body pointed out that PointsBet was slow to respond and provided false information in the initial investigation, only admitting 18 months later that it had set odds for the implicated match. Interested in the latest developments in global sports betting integrity regulation? PASA's official website continues to track industry compliance cases.
One, Event Retrospective: From "No Betting" to "Admitting Bets Were Placed"
In early 2024, then Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter was suspected of leaking insider information to bettors, triggering regulatory investigations in both the US and Canada. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) immediately required all licensed sports betting operators to confirm whether they had offered bets related to Porter and to report any suspicious activities.
PointsBet's initial response: Claimed no bets related to Porter were offered
October 2025 turning point: The US Department of Justice released an indictment revealing a larger scale insider betting conspiracy
AGCO's re-examination: PointsBet changed its statement, admitting it had set odds for the implicated match
Regulatory review outcome: Betting records showed "clear signs of suspicion," which should have been reported immediately when they occurred
From the first inquiry to the final admission, there was a long gap of 18 months.
Two, Why the Penalty? The Regulatory Emphasis on "First Line of Defense" Responsibilities
In its statement, the AGCO emphasized that licensed operators are the first line of defense for sports integrity and must:
Establish comprehensive monitoring systems
Train employees to recognize suspicious betting patterns
Immediately report any abnormal activities to enable coordination with leagues, law enforcement, and other regulatory bodies
The mistake by PointsBet was:
Initial response was false (attributed to "human error during an organizational transition")
Failure to promptly identify suspicious bets
Delayed reporting for 18 months
AGCO CEO Karin Schnarr stated: "The regulatory framework is clear—operators must have the ability to detect and respond to integrity risks. If standards are not met, we take action."
Three, PointsBet's Response: Penalty Too Harsh, Will Consider Appeal
PointsBet Canada expressed "disappointment" with the regulatory decision, emphasizing that the issue stemmed from a "human error" in March 2024, not an intentional concealment of information. "Once the correct data was discovered, we disclosed it immediately and cooperated fully with the investigation." The company believes that, given the subsequent remedial measures and past compliance record, a 5-day suspension is "disproportionate."
PointsBet has the right to apply for a hearing with the independent Licence Appeal Tribunal within 15 days. This is the third time AGCO has penalized the company—previously for advertising violations (May 2022) and breaching responsible gaming standards (November 2023).
Four, Aftermath of the Porter Case: NBA Lifetime Ban, Legal Accountability
The Jontay Porter case has become a landmark event in the sports betting integrity crisis. The NBA has imposed a lifetime ban on him, and he has pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to commit telecommunications fraud. The US Department of Justice describes this case as part of a broader betting conspiracy, with multiple law enforcement agencies continuing to follow up.
This proposed suspension against PointsBet sends a clear message to all operators: compliance is not optional, and integrity has no buffer zone.
————
This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leaders," a gambling industry news channel: https://t.me/pasa_news
Original in-depth gambling channel: https://t.me/gamblingdeep
Free data reports: @pasa_research
PASA Matrix: @pasa002_bot
PASA official website: https://www.pasa.news
