The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has issued fines to two operators recently.Ontario sportsbook BV Gaming Limited and Fitzdares Canada Limited faced penalties amounting to $30,000 CAD for offering wagers on minor league sporting events.
In particular, these licensed operators were penalized for what the AGCO's press release described as 'violations of the Registrar’s Standards For Internet Gaming.' The infractions pertained to matches that took place during the 2022-23 season, involving three prominent junior hockey leagues: the Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League, and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Minor league sports encompass the three major junior hockey leagues governed by the Canadian Hockey League.
According to Dave Phillips, the Chief Operating Officer of the AGCO, 'As the overseer of sports betting in Ontario, the AGCO is committed to preserving the integrity of the betting landscape, which, in return, helps safeguard the integrity of sports.' This was stated in a release dated June 20. 'This includes a strict ban on placing bets on minor league sports in Ontario, including the Canadian major junior hockey league. We will persist in our vigilant oversight of Ontario's sports betting markets to protect the interests of the public.' said in the release The two fined operators possess the right to contest the registrar's ruling.
Both BV Gaming Limited and Fitzdares Canada Limited are operators involved in the gaming industry.
Operators Fined $15,000 Each
Earlier this year, the AGCO fined three online gaming companies a total of $70,000 for providing unapproved slot machine games.Ontario sportsbook apps , were fined $15,000 each.
The inaugural year of Ontario's regulated iGaming sector in 2022 also saw a number of similar penalties issued.
DraftKings was slapped with a $100,000 fine for missteps in advertising and inducement. BetMGM and PointsBet Canada were penalized $48,000 and $30,000, respectively, under similar circumstances.
When the market opened in April 2022, Ontario emerged as one of the few places globally to impose regulations on operators concerning bonuses and inducements.
Operators are still permitted to display such offers on their websites or distribute them through direct marketing to players on
Online Casino Games in Ontario Show New Features and ExcitementOntario casino apps who consent.
