Ontario Sanctions 3 Operators for Offering Unapproved Games

Recently, three operators in Ontario, Canada, were fined a total of $70,000 for providing unverified online slots. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) gave the three operators a Notice of Monetary Penalty as a result of contravening the Standards for Internet Gaming. The regulator says this move will safeguard gamblers in the province from playing unfair slot machines. 

The regulated online live casino sites are accused of supplying Ontarians with slots unapproved by the AGCO and certified by the ITL (Independent Testing Laboratory), breaching Standards 4.08 and 4.09. The operators in question include LeoVegas Gaming PLC, Bunchberry Limited, and Mobile Incorporated Limited.

• Mobile Incorporated Limited is guilty of violating Standard 1.22 after supplying games from suppliers not registered on AGCO's database. The consequence is a $30,000 fine, the heaviest among the three operators. 
• LeoVegas was found to violate AGCO Board Guidelines and Standards 4.08 and 4.09 by providing online casino games that have not been certified. Consequently, LeoVegas Gaming PLC was handed a $25,000 fine. 
• Regarding Bunchberry Limited, the regulator accused the company of breaching Standards 4.08 and 4.09 and violating the Board Guidelines. Thus, the business must pay a $15,000 fine per the Order of Monetary Penalty.

Commenting while issuing the fines, Tom Mungham, AGCO's Chief Executive Officer and Registrar remarked:

“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. 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”.