The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has taken action against three registered internet gaming operators for alleged breaches of its game integrity standards in internet gaming. Bunchberry Limited, Mobile Incorporated Limited, and LeoVegas Gaming have been issued monetary penalties totaling CA$70,000 (approximately $52,000) for their infractions.
Alleged Violations
The AGCO investigated and found that the three operators had violated Standards 4.08 and 4.09, which pertain to the requirement for licensees to obtain approval for all slot games from an independent testing laboratory. Additionally, Mobile Incorporated was found to have breached Standard 1.22 by offering uncertified games from suppliers not registered with AGCO.
Penalties Imposed
Mobile Incorporated: Fined CA$30,000 for three breaches.
LeoVegas Gaming: Fined CA$25,000.
Bunchberry Limited: Fined CA$15,000.
All three operators have the option to appeal these penalties to the License Appeal Tribunal (LAT), an independent adjudicative tribunal separate from AGCO and part of Tribunals Ontario.
Purpose of Standards
The AGCO introduced these standards to safeguard Ontarians from potential harm and to uphold game integrity and fairness within the internet gaming sector. These rules are designed to establish clear requirements for operators and gaming suppliers. They mandate the cessation of all unregulated activities and the provision of games certified by an AGCO-registered Independent Testing Laboratory (ITL) to participate in Ontario’s regulated online gaming market.
AGCO’s Commitment to Responsible Gambling
AGCO Registrar and Chief Executive Tom Mungham emphasized the regulator’s commitment to upholding high standards of responsible gambling, player protection, and game integrity. Ensuring that operators offer only certified games from registered suppliers is a crucial aspect of their regulatory framework. This guarantees that Ontarians who choose to engage in registered gaming activities can have confidence in the integrity and fairness of the games they play.
The AGCO’s actions against these operators underscore the importance of strict adherence to gaming standards and regulations to maintain the trust and confidence of players and to protect the interests of Ontarians participating in online gaming activities. The fines imposed serve as a reminder to all operators of the critical need for compliance with established gaming integrity standards.