AGCO Fines Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto $120K

Canada’s largest casino resort is facing serious scrutiny after regulators uncovered a high-stakes cheating scheme. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has fined Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto $120,000 for failing to detect dealer collusion and fraudulent gameplay on its gaming floor. As the incident marks the casino’s second recent violation, regulators are doubling down on calls for stronger compliance and security protocols. Operators must reassess internal controls and audit procedures to avoid similar enforcement actions as regulatory pressure intensifies across Ontario.

AGCO Slaps $120K Fine on Great Canadian Casino Toronto for Dealer Collusion Scandal

3 Key Points:

1. AGCO fined Ontario Gaming GTA Limited Partnership $120,000 over a dealer-led cheat-at-play scheme.
2. Two table game dealers colluded with patrons, generating $20,000 in illicit winnings in under a week.
3. This is the second recent incident at the same resort involving dealer-related cheating and surveillance failures.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has issued a $120,000 monetary penalty to Ontario Gaming GTA Limited Partnership, the operator of Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto, for failing to identify and prevent a coordinated cheating scheme involving its own table game dealers.

The penalty comes after a comprehensive compliance review prompted by a March 2024 investigation from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Investigation and Enforcement Bureau (IEB). Embedded within the AGCO, the IEB charged five individuals, including two casino dealers, for collusion with a group of patrons in a scheme that resulted in nearly $20,000 in fraudulent winnings over less than one week.

Breakdown of the Violations

According to the AGCO, the casino’s surveillance team and pit supervisors failed to detect the cheating as it occurred in real time. Moreover, the resort’s employees did not follow the standard table games audit procedures, which are in place specifically to identify irregular play patterns or dealer misconduct.

The AGCO emphasized that this is not the first cheating-related incident at the property, which only opened in June 2023 adjacent to Toronto’s Woodbine Racetrack. The recurrence of compliance failures has led to further concerns about the operator’s internal control systems and surveillance efficacy.

AGCO’s Position on Casino Integrity

AGCO’s Registrar and CEO, Karin Schnarr, addressed the significance of the enforcement action:

“Ontario’s registered casino operators have an obligation to ensure the integrity of game play in their casinos. This includes a responsibility to detect and prevent collusion and cheating. The AGCO will continue to monitor and take all necessary steps to uphold the integrity of gaming in Ontario’s gaming sites.”

The regulator’s decision reinforces its zero-tolerance stance on operational negligence, particularly when it involves staff misconduct and failures in surveillance systems that are meant to serve as the first line of defense against fraud.

Operator Rights and Regulatory Process

While the fine has been issued, Ontario Gaming GTA Limited Partnership has the right to appeal the decision to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT)—an independent adjudicative body under Tribunals Ontario. However, appeals must be based on substantive arguments and may face significant scrutiny given the evidence gathered by both the AGCO and the OPP.

The $120,000 fine issued to Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto is more than just a monetary penalty—it’s a regulatory warning shot. As Ontario continues to grow its gaming sector, especially through retail and digital integration, operator accountability has never been more critical. This incident serves as a stark reminder to all licensed casinos that compliance failures, especially those involving internal collusion, will be met with swift and public consequences. Going forward, enhanced audit procedures, advanced surveillance tools, and staff training must become non-negotiable priorities for all casino operators in Canada.