The Ontario gaming regulator has handed a $120,000 penalty to the Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto for allegedly failing to detect cheating and dealer collusion.
According to the notice from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), the penalty follows charges being brought against five individuals after an investigation into alleged collusion between a group of casino patrons and two table game dealers.
A subsequent AGCO compliance review confirmed that the dealers had engaged in a scheme with the same group of patrons on multiple occasions, leading to almost $20,000 in illicit winnings in less than a one-week period.
The alleged execution of the scheme included intentionally exposing cards that were supposed to remain face down while dealing, inappropriately overdrawing the dealer’s cards and issuing overpayments on winning hands.
The AGCO found that surveillance and supervisory staff at the Great Canadian Casino Resort, owned by the Ontario Gaming GTA Limited Partnership, failed to detect the scheme and casino staff did not follow proper table game audit procedures.
In a statement made to Canadian Gaming Business, Great Canadian Entertainment’s EVP of External Relations and Business Development, Chuck Keeling, said: “We acknowledge the fine issued by the AGCO and reaffirm our zero-tolerance policy for any behaviour that has the potential to compromise game integrity.
“We will continue to support all efforts to prosecute those responsible.”
This is Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto’s second recent incident involving allegations of cheating and dealer collusion at the casino.
In September 2023, the AGCO fined the casino, then known as Casino Woodbine, $80,000 after failing to detect a similar scheme in which an electronic craps dealer was in collusion with five patrons over a period of around six months.
Commenting on the latest investigation, AGCO CEO Dr. Karin Schnarr emphasised the obligation of Ontario casino operators to ensure the integrity of game play within their premises and “detect and prevent collusion and cheating”.
Great Canadian has the right to appeal the penalty.
