AGCO Fines theScore $105,000 for Responsible Gambling Failures

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), the Canadian gambling regulator, has issued a $105,000 fine to theScore, following multiple breaches of responsible gambling and player protection standards in the Ontario sports betting market.

The penalty followed an in-depth compliance review that revealed the operator failed to respond in a case involving a player who wagered $2.5 million and lost approximately $230,000 over eight months.

According to the AGCO, the player exhibited clear signs of loss-chasing, financial distress, and escalating betting patterns, including nearly $100,000 in losses in the 30 days following the creation of the account. These indicators should have triggered alarms under Ontario's responsible gambling requirements, which should have been identified by anyone striving to be one of the best sports betting sites in Canada.

“Player protections are a fundamental requirement for any gambling operator looking to conduct business in Ontario. 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,” said Dr. Karin Schnarr, CEO and Registrar of AGCO. 

The regulator also noted that theScore accepted documents regarding the player's income that should have raised red flags. It was also too dependent on the player's own self-assessment, missing opportunities to limit potential gambling-related harm. 

Ontario's responsible gambling codes, introduced with the 2022 launch of the province's regulated iGaming market, including the Ontario online casinos market, mandate the use of comprehensive monitoring tools by operators that can detect high-risk betting.

AGCO emphasized that providing employees with appropriate education and implementing prompt corrections remains crucial in maintaining player protection to prevent further conflicts within the regulated online gambling system in Ontario.

Ontario's iGaming market posts strong year

Ontario's regulated iGaming market has continued its expansion, recording $82.7 billion in wagers and $3.2 billion in gross gaming revenue for the 2024–25 fiscal year, representing a 31% and 32% year-over-year increase, respectively. 

The results, reported by iGaming Ontario (iGO), indicate that the market is maturing in its third year since launch.

“These results show Ontario is home to a truly dynamic igaming market with a strong roster of operators, and a world-class list of games available for players,” said Heidi Reinhart, Chair of the Board of Directors. “With 49 operators offering 84 gaming sites, Ontario’s regulated market continues to grow by offering a safer environment for Ontarians to play.”

A study by marketing research firm IPSOS, commissioned by iGO and the AGCO, also found that 83.7% of Ontarians now prefer regulated platforms, demonstrating growing trust in the legal market. Still, 20.2% of regulated site-using players continue to use the services of unlicensed bookmakers.

AGCO and iGO have renewed their vows towards enhancing supervision and the level of protection for players in order to maintain further faith in the online gambling environment in Ontario.