For failing to comply with the province’s responsible gambling requirements, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) fined licensed iGaming operator Apollo Entertainment Ltd. a sizable sum of $100,000 (US$74,500). By ensuring fair operations and player protections, the AGCO is dedicated to preserving Ontarians’ enjoyment of online gambling, as demonstrated by this fine.
“Our mission is to ensure that online gambling in Ontario is conducted fairly, responsibly, and with strong player safeguards,” said AGCO CEO Tom Mungham in reference to the significance of responsible gambling. All licensed operators are obligated to proactively monitor player behavior and act as soon as there are indications of potential harm from gambling.
The penalty has been imposed due to various assumed infringements of the Registrar’s Regulations for Online Gambling, which specify proper practices related to responsible gaming.
- Failing to take the appropriate action when players show signs of gambling-related harm. This includes situations where a player suffered losses of more than $2 million over the course of four months without the operator of the gaming site intervening on their behalf.
- Not creating a thorough voluntary self-exclusion program and giving players insufficient tools to set financial and time-based gambling limits, like loss and deposit caps.
- Failing to make sure that all of its employees are aware of the value of responsible gambling and their responsibility to help players who might be at risk of suffering gambling-related harm.
Apollo Entertainment Ltd. is still free to challenge the Registrar’s sanction. The AGCO noted that Apollo had shown a willingness to address their concerns and had taken significant steps to improve responsible gambling controls on their platforms.
Captain Cooks, Golden Tiger, Grand Mondial, and Yukon Gold are just a few of the licensed Canadian casino sites in the province that are run by Apollo Entertainment Ltd.
The AGCO has taken enforcement actions against operators numerous times since the regulated Ontario iGaming market opened in April 2022. This includes fining Unibet CAD$48,000 for alleged advertising and inducement violations, DraftKings Canada CAD$100,000 for related offenses, and BetMGM Canada and PointsBet Canada CAD$48,000 and CAD$30,000 penalties, respectively, for alleged advertising and inducement violations.
The AGCO’s strict enforcement highlights the authorities’ unwavering dedication to upholding responsible gambling standards and ensuring the safety of people who participate in online gambling activities.
