Gambling Weekly News Summary in Canada – 2026/02/28
PointsBet Canada Confirms Its Plans to Object to Proposed Five-Day Suspension
Following a decision from Ontario’s gambling regulator, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO), to temporarily suspend PointsBet Canada for five days, PointsBet has confirmed its plans to appeal the decision, according to Canada Gaming Business.
An AGCO investigation found that PointsBet failed to identify and adequately report suspicious betting behaviour regarding NBA player Jontay Porter, who has since been banned. The company has since requested a hearing before the independent License Appeal Tribunal to object to the suspension.
In a statement, PointsBet Canada Chief Executive Officer, Scott Vanderall, said, “We have a strong compliance record in Ontario and remain fully committed to the highest standards of integrity and player protection. We look forward to presenting our case at the Tribunal.”
The suspension was proposed after AGCO contacted all Ontario sportsbooks to ask whether they had offered bets on Porter, who was banned for life from the NBA for manipulating his performance. PointsBet was found to have delayed its reporting. The operator can continue offering online betting activity in the province, while the results of the tribunal hearing are pending.
Ontario iGaming Cash Wagers Reach New Highs in January
Ontario’s iGaming market revenue grew 20% year-on-year in January, reaching its highest level of cash wagers since launch in 2022. In its first month of 2026, cash wagers reached $9.5 billion in January, rising 21.4% year-on-year, from $7.8 billion the year prior.
It’s 48 commercial regulators also saw their non-adjusted gross gaming revenue (NAGGR) rise by 22.2%, from $329 million in January 2025 to $402 million in January 2026. However, this was a 6% decline from the all-time monthly record seen in December 2025 of $425 million.
Online casino cash wagers accounted for 86% of the market, generating $8.2 billion. Online betting accounted for the second-largest market share at 12%, generating $1.2 billion, while peer-to-peer poker accounted for 2% of the market, generating $156 million.
Similar statistics were seen for NAGGR in the proving, with online casinos accounting for 77% of the market with $308.9 million, online betting accounting for 22% of the market with $86.7 million in NAGGR and peer-to-peer accounting for 1% of the market, generating $5.9 million.
St8 launches in Ontario’s iGaming Market Through TonyBet Partnership
Online casino aggregator, St8, has launched in Ontario’s iGaming market through a partnership with online betting provider TonyBet.
St8 will provide its casino games aggregation platform to TonyBet through the partnership, including a range of titles through a single API. It will also include promotional tools, bonuses, and compliance and licensing solutions, with reporting and data capabilities.
“Since receiving our Ontario license, we have focused on building strong local partnerships and delivering a platform that combines scalability, speed, and compliance. As a respected international brand, TonyBet shares our commitment to building reliable solutions for regulated markets, and we look forward to working closely together as we continue to expand our presence in regulated jurisdictions worldwide,” said the CEO of St8, Vladimir Negine.
St8 said the partnership is an important step in its global growth as it continues to expand across regulated jurisdictions, with its products designed to support operators’ launches and growth in regulated markets.
Ziv (Steve) Chen
CEO at Major League Content
Ziv has been working in the iGaming industry for more than two decades, serving in senior roles in software developers like Playtech and Microgaming. He then followed his lifelong passion of writing and became a fulltime journalist, covering casinos, sports betting, legislation and other gambling topics and news with a specialty in North America.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ziv-steve-chen-94b01b5/
