Three igaming operators face monetary penalties from AGCO

The Registrar of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has imposed monetary penalties totaling CA$70,000 (approximately $52,000) on three igaming operators. However, all three operators retain the right to appeal these rulings.

The registrar of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has issued notices of monetary penalty to three AGCO-registered internet gaming operators, namely Bunchberry Limited, Mobile Incorporated Limited, and LeoVegas Gaming.

These operators have allegedly violated Standards 4.08 and 4.09, which mandate licensees to obtain approval for all slots from an independent testing laboratory in accordance with AGCO’s standards for game integrity in internet gaming.

In addition to the breaches of Standards 4.08 and 4.09, Mobile Incorporated was also found to have violated Standard 1.22 by providing uncertified games from suppliers not registered with AGCO. As a result, AGCO imposed a monetary penalty of CA$30,000 on Mobile Incorporated for the three breaches. LeoVegas was fined CA$25,000, and Bunchberry was fined CA$15,000 for their respective violations. It is worth noting that all three operators have the right to appeal these rulings to the License Appeal Tribunal (LAT), which is an independent adjudicative tribunal under Tribunals Ontario and not affiliated with AGCO.

The AGCO implemented the Standards to safeguard Ontarians from potential harm and ensure the integrity and fairness of games in the regulated igaming market. These rules mandate operators and gaming suppliers to cease all unregulated activities and only provide games certified by an AGCO-registered ITL in order to participate in Ontario’s regulated igaming market.

“The AGCO holds all registered operators to high standards of responsible gambling, player protection and game integrity, and monitors their activities in the interest of Ontarians.”

Tom Mungham, AGCO Registrar and Chief Executive, emphasized that the AGCO maintains high standards of responsible gambling, player protection, and game integrity for all registered operators. He further highlighted that the regulatory framework requires operators to exclusively offer games from registered gaming suppliers that have been certified by AGCO-registered independent testing laboratories, adhering to the highest standards of game integrity. This assurance is crucial for Ontarians who choose to play on registered sites.

“A critical feature of our regulatory framework requires operators to only offer games that are from registered gaming suppliers and have been certified by an AGCO-registered independent testing laboratory to meet the highest standards of game integrity.

“Ontarians who choose to play on registered sites need the assurance that the games being provided meet these requirements.”