Score Media and Gaming (theScore) has been given a CAD $105,000 (approximately €65,000) monetary penalty by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) for failing to meet responsible gambling and player protection standards.
The AGCO has stated that the penalty is due to several alleged violations of the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming.
All registered operators are required by the standards to proactively monitor player behaviour, intervene when risks of gambling-related harm are detected, and ensure employees are properly trained to support player protection.
A regulatory review by the AGCO found that a customer of theScore wagered $2.5m and lost approximately $230,000 over eight months, including approximately $100,000 in the first month.
The Commission stated that this customer showed “frequent, high-stakes play and escalating losses that clearly indicated potential gambling-related harm”, including “repeatedly requested bonuses, displayed loss-chasing behaviour, and showed signs of distress to the operator’s VIP host”.
According to the AGCO, theScore missed opportunities to appropriately intervene and reduce the potential for high-risk play, adding that the operator “relied on the patron’s self-assessments and failed to conduct meaningful responsible gambling due diligence or interventions” despite inaccurate income documentation and warning signs being shown.
“Player protections are a fundamental requirement for any gambling operator looking to conduct business in Ontario,” noted Dr Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of the AGCO.
“When operators fail to uphold these critical safer gambling standards, they not only betray the trust of their players but also undermine the integrity of Ontario’s regulated igaming market.”
The AGCO added that theScore has the right to appeal its decision to the Licence Appeal Tribunal, which is an adjudicative tribunal independent of the AGCO and part of Tribunals Ontario.
iGaming Expert has reached out to theScore for a comment on this penalty from the AGCO.
