PointsBet Canada has agreed to take its Ontario gaming site offline for two days. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) announced the settlement on 20 October 2026. Besides the suspension, PointsBet will undergo an independent audit by an auditor, using a methodology, that the AGCO approves. It has also committed to fix whatever the audit finds, with that work independently checked. The AGCO says the settlement concludes the proceeding.
When the site goes dark is not yet known
The AGCO’s announcement gives no dates for the suspension, and it says nothing about how player accounts will be handled while the site is offline. PointsBet offers both an online casino and a sportsbook in Ontario. The AGCO refers to its “Ontario gaming site” without separating the two, so players should assume that neither will be available for those two days until PointsBet says otherwise.
Until the dates are announced, PointsBet customers can take a few simple steps:
- Watch for an email or an on-site notice from PointsBet giving the suspension dates.
- If you may need your money during the suspension, request a withdrawal well before it starts. Withdrawals take time to process, and a request that is still pending when the site closes may wait until it reopens.
- Note any open sports bets that settle during those two days, and keep a record of your balance before the suspension starts.
- If something goes wrong afterwards, complain to PointsBet first. If its final response does not settle the matter, iGaming Ontario handles disputes about registered operators.
What the case was about
The case has nothing to do with casino games. In February 2026 the AGCO issued a Notice of Proposed Order to suspend PointsBet’s registration for five days. It alleged that PointsBet had systemically failed to monitor, detect, document and report suspicious betting linked to the 2024 bet-rigging scheme involving former NBA player Jontay Porter.
According to the AGCO, PointsBet told the regulator in early 2024, after a significant delay, that it had not offered bets on Porter in the games in question. When a US Department of Justice indictment became public in October 2025, the AGCO asked operators to reconfirm. About 18 months after its first answer, PointsBet acknowledged that it had offered those bets. The AGCO’s review of PointsBet’s wagering data found indications of suspicious betting that, in its view, should have been detected and reported when the bets were placed. PointsBet could appeal the proposed order to the Licence Appeal Tribunal. The settlement replaces that process with a shorter suspension plus the audit.
The AGCO also noted earlier penalties against PointsBet: in May 2022 for advertising and inducement breaches, and in November 2023 for breaching responsible-gambling standards.
Why it matters beyond PointsBet
A suspension is a heavier sanction than the fines the AGCO usually imposes on Ontario operators, such as its penalty against theScore Bet earlier this month. It shows that integrity monitoring is treated as a core duty, not a back-office detail. For players, the practical lesson is broader. Any registered site can be told to close for a period, so it is worth keeping only the balance you plan to play with and knowing how to withdraw. Our Ontario casino checker shows which sites are currently registered.
Players must be 19 or older and physically in Ontario to play for real money. ConnexOntario offers free support at 1-866-531-2600.
Sources: AGCO · iGaming Ontario
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