AGCO Imposes Penalties on BetVictor and Fitzdares for Sports Betting Violations

Penalties have been imposed by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) on BV Gaming, operator of BetVictor, and Fitzdares Canada for their involvement in providing prohibited bets on major junior hockey.

Operators BV Gaming and Fitzdares Canada fined for prohibited bets on Canadian Hockey League

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) recently imposed penalties on BV Gaming (BetVictor) and Fitzdares Canada for offering prohibited bets on major junior hockey leagues. These operators allowed wagers on contests within the Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League, and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League during the 2022-23 season. Such actions violated the AGCO’s standards, specifically Standard 4.34, paragraph 15, which strictly prohibits betting on minor league sports, including the aforementioned major junior hockey leagues. As a result, both operators have been ordered to pay a penalty of CA$15,000 each.

BV Gaming and Fitzdares Canada Granted Right to Appeal

BV Gaming (BetVictor) and Fitzdares Canada have the opportunity to appeal the ruling to the License Appeal Tribunal. The AGCO serves as Ontario’s regulatory body for the sports betting industry and is committed to upholding the integrity of sports betting. AGCO’s Chief Operating Officer, Dave Phillips, emphasized the importance of protecting the integrity of sport by strictly prohibiting bets on minor league sports, including Canadian major junior hockey, within the province. The AGCO will continue to monitor Ontario’s sports betting markets to safeguard the public interest.

Regulatory Actions Targeting Prohibited Activities

AGCO has recently taken regulatory actions against various operators to crack down on prohibited activities. In April, fines were imposed on three operators, Bunchberry Limited, Mobile Incorporated Limited, and LeoVegas Gaming, for offering uncertified slot games. These operators were found to have breached Standards 4.08 and 4.09, which require approval from an independent testing laboratory for all slot games. Mobile Incorporated further violated Standard 1.22 by offering games from suppliers not registered with the AGCO. Consequently, Mobile Incorporated was fined $30,000, while LeoVegas and Bunchberry received fines of $25,000 and $15,000, respectively.