Posted on: February 12, 2026, 06:47h.
Last updated on: February 12, 2026, 07:02h.
- PointsBet faces five-day suspension over Porter betting failure
- AGCO says operator missed suspicious wagers tied to NBA scheme
- Company blames human error, plans to review appeal option
Ontario’s gaming regulator, AGCO, has proposed suspending PointsBet Canada’s ability to operate for five days as a penalty for its alleged failure to properly monitor, detect, and report suspicious betting patterns linked to the 2024 Jontay Porter betting scandal.
Former Toronto Raptor Porter was banned for life by the NBA in April 2024 for leaking insider information to a New York-based gambling syndicate and deliberately underperforming during at least two games. Porter pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge later that year and is awaiting sentencing.
US federal prosecutors claim the group bet the under on Porter in games against the Los Angeles Clippers and the Sacramento Kings, both losses for the Raptors. Porter told the group in advance that he would exit early from each game claiming injury, according to court documents.
Sketchy Betting Patterns
DraftKings and FanDuel, among others, noticed irregular betting patterns and unusual account activity ahead of those games. This included spikes in betting on Porter’s underperformance stats that didn’t align with normal betting trends.
Ahead of the March 20 game, there was an unusually large bet – an $80,000 parlay on Porter falling short of his projected stat line.
Operators reported their suspicions to the NBA, which sparked a federal investigation, but PointsBet allegedly failed to do so, according to AGCO.
After allegations of insider betting first surfaced in March 2024, AGCO directed all licensed operators to confirm whether they had offered Porter-related markets and to disclose any suspicious wagering.
PointsBet initially advised it had not offered any such bets, but it changed its tune after the US Department of Justice unsealed indictments on Porter and syndicate members. The acknowledgement came roughly 18 months after its initial response to the regulator.
‘Linked to Conspiracy’
After reviewing PointsBet’s wagering data, AGCO said it had identified betting patterns allegedly linked to the conspiracy, which should have been flagged and reported when it occurred.
AGCO said it expected its licensed operators to act as a “critical first line of defense in protecting the integrity of sport and Ontario’s sports betting market” and to diligently monitor unusual and suspicious betting activity.
The timely identification and reporting of such issues warn sports leagues, integrity monitors, regulators and law enforcement of potential integrity concerns, the regulator said, “It also alerts gaming operators across the globe, which allows them to take necessary steps to protect their patrons from bets lacking integrity.”
‘Human Error’
In an emailed statement to Casino.org, PointsBet Canada said it was “disappointed” by AGCO’s proposal. The operator said the initial “inaccurate response” was a result of “human error” during an organizational transition, rather than a deliberate effort to withhold information.
“Upon discovering the correct data, we immediately disclosed it, cooperated fully with the investigation, and engaged proactively with the regulator,” a spokesperson said. “We respectfully believe the proposed sanction is disproportionate given the circumstances, our subsequent corrective actions, and our strong compliance record, and we are carefully reviewing all options.”
This includes its right to a hearing before the independent License Appeal Tribunal, the company added.
PointsBet has 15 days to appeal the proposed suspension to the Licence Appeal Tribunal. The penalty will not take effect unless the matter is either resolved or upheld following that process.
