Ontario’s gambling regulator has suspended the operations of PointsBet in the province after the operator failed to identify and act on suspicious betting activity related to NBA player Jontay Porter.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) announced the suspension, citing PointsBet’s breach of its social responsibility and integrity requirements.
The action stems from a series of wagers on Porter’s performance that raised red flags for integrity monitoring, but which PointsBet did not detect or intervene on in a timely manner. Under Ontario’s regulatory framework, operators are required to identify and respond to atypical wagering patterns that could indicate insider activity or other integrity concerns, particularly in regulated sports betting markets.
In response to the regulator’s concerns, AGCO has ordered PointsBet’s platform in Ontario to be suspended until the operator demonstrates improvements to its integrity monitoring systems and compliance processes. The operator will need to satisfy the regulator that it can consistently detect and address suspicious betting activity in accordance with provincial rules before its suspension is lifted.
This enforcement action highlights the importance regulators place on integrity controls and responsible operations in legal sports betting markets, reinforcing expectations that licensed operators maintain robust systems for safeguarding against potential manipulation or unfair wagering practices.
