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Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario

GLI Named an Independent Testing Laboratory for iGaming in Ontario

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Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) has been named an iGaming independent testing laboratory (ITL) by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).

The registration means that, effective immediately, GLI is authorized to test and certify iGaming components such as games, random number generator (RNGs), and platforms/RGS.

The AGCO and the province will leverage the benefits of GLI’s 30+ years of international experience in iGaming testing, certification, and consultation. Today, GLI is the only lab working with all existing and emerging jurisdictions worldwide, giving GLI unparalleled expertise and insight to help AGCO, AGCO-registered operators, and/or gaming-related suppliers successfully navigate the exciting opportunities in Ontario for iGaming.

In addition to Ontario, GLI has helped all other Canadian provinces currently online with their technical standards and/or mission-critical online gaming testing deployments to date, including the Province of Alberta’s most recent online portal’s launch.

“It is extremely exciting to see the future of the iGaming landscape emerge in Ontario. GLI is proud to be a part of it and honored to have been registered as an authorized test lab by the AGCO. We’re always preparing for what’s next- land-based, digital, or both, with experts on the ground around the world. As the pioneer in iGaming and sportsbook testing and certification, we know we will have much to offer, and our global professionals are ready to help in ways no one else can,” James Maida, CEO of GLI, said.

In addition to formal testing and certification work on behalf of the AGCO, GLI is ready to provide other valuable assistance to interested operators and suppliers, such as pre-certification testing, jurisdictional consultation, and regulatory advisory support to help them clearly understand the AGCO Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming. GLI also provides a full suite of critical integrated services including GAP Analyses and Transfers of Approval, educational services for iGaming or sports betting compliance, workshops, and many other forms of emerging market support and consultancy.

“Beyond wanting the AGCO and province of Ontario to greatly benefit, we also want operators and suppliers to be commercially successful, all while maintaining the highest levels of integrity in compliance. Our technical and regulatory compliance teams are ready to test, consult and advise on best practices to achieve that,” Salim L. Adatia, Vice President of Client Services for North America, said.

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AGCO

AGCO Fines Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto $350,000 for Serious Regulatory Violations Linked to Impromptu After-Party on Gaming Floor

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The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has issued monetary penalties totaling $350,000 against Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto for multiple violations of provincial gaming standards. The penalties follow an impromptu after-party that was permitted to take place in the pre-dawn hours directly on the casino’s gaming floor.

On September 27, 2024, an electronic dance music event attended by thousands of people was hosted in the theatre adjacent to the casino at Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto. The event was marked by widespread intoxication, disorderly behavior, and numerous criminal and medical incidents – both inside and outside the venue – including alleged assaults, drug overdoses, and acts of public indecency. Although paid duty officers were present, additional police and emergency services were required to manage the situation.

In the midst of this high-risk environment, casino management approved an unscheduled request by the performing artist to host an after-party on the active gaming floor. The artist and more than 400 guests were permitted onto the gaming floor where the artist was allowed to perform amidst operational table games and gaming machines – without any prior risk assessment or planning.

As a result, security personnel were unable to effectively control the casino floor, including witness reports that an attendee was seen climbing onto slot machines. Failure to maintain appropriate control compromises the security, safety, and integrity of the casino floor. Following the conclusion of the event, the operator failed to promptly report these incidents to the AGCO as required.

Based on the findings of its review, the AGCO’s Registrar has issued an Order of Monetary Penalty (OMP) totaling $350,000 against Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto. These penalties address critical failures in their operations, incident reporting, employee training, and the management of disturbances.

A gaming operator served with an OMP has 15 days to appeal the Registrar’s decision to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), an adjudicative tribunal that is part of Tribunals Ontario and independent of the AGCO.

“Casino operators have a fundamental duty to control their gaming environment. Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto’s lapses in this incident compromised the safety of patrons and the security and integrity of the gaming floor,” Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of AGCO, said.

The post AGCO Fines Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto $350,000 for Serious Regulatory Violations Linked to Impromptu After-Party on Gaming Floor appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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AGCO

AGCO: Casino Days Penalized $54,000 for Deceptive and High-Risk Bonus Offer

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The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has issued a $54,000 monetary penalty alleging Well Played Media, Unipessoal LDA promoted a deceptive bonus on its Casino Days website. The bonus offer is alleged to have encouraged high-risk behavior and failed to properly disclose key terms.

The AGCO launched an investigation triggered by a player who complained that more than $8500 in winnings had been confiscated by Casino Days. The investigation reviewed a so-called “welcome bonus” that promised new players up to $2000.

However, to qualify for the full bonus amount, players had to:

Deposit $2000 of their own money;

Wager $70,000 (35 times the deposit);

Keep each wager at or under $5; and

Complete all wagering requirements within 7 days.

Investigators also found that certain terms of the bonus offer were difficult to find, buried behind multiple links on the site.

AGCO’s analysis showed that the average player would first lose $3640 trying to earn the $2000 bonus.

According to Ontario’s igaming rules, registered operators must not offer bonus promotions that encourage harmful gambling behavior and fail to disclose key conditions appropriately. Further, operators are not permitted to entice players with bonuses that cannot reasonably be attained without significant gambling losses.

These rules are in place to protect players and support a safe, regulated market—one that stands in contrast to the risks of unregulated gambling sites.

An igaming operator served with an Order of Monetary Penalty by the AGCO Registrar has the right to appeal the Registrar’s decision to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), an adjudicative tribunal that is part of Tribunals Ontario and independent of the AGCO.

“Player protection is a non-negotiable priority for the AGCO. We expect operators to be truthful and transparent about their promotions, and we also require them to ensure that those promotions do not encourage reckless or harmful patterns of play. An offer that requires a player to sustain substantial losses for a perceived benefit is not a fair offer. This penalty sends a clear signal that we will not hesitate to take action against operators who fail to meet their obligations to protect Ontario players,” Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of AGCO.

The post AGCO: Casino Days Penalized $54,000 for Deceptive and High-Risk Bonus Offer appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Adam Fonsica Co‑Founder & COO at Random State

Random State obtains Ontario iGaming licence

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Random State (“RS”), the Swedish studio behind next‑generation iLottery and multiplayer bingo content, has been granted a Gaming‑Related Supplier – Manufacturer licence by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). The approval, effective 14 May 2025, authorises RS to offer its games and platform services to licensed operators across Ontario.

“Securing the Ontario licence is a milestone our entire team has worked tirelessly toward,” said Adam Fonsica, Co‑Founder & COO at Random State. “Ontario not only validates the quality and integrity of our technology; it provides a launchpad for our broader North‑American expansion. We can’t wait to introduce our eInstant titles and multiplayer bingo hub to Ontario players later this year, together with a soon‑to‑be‑announced operator.”

The licence clears the way for RS to roll out its full product portfolio in Ontario:

Interactive eInstants – instant‑win games that re‑imagine traditional lottery mechanics with modern gameplay and rich visuals.

Multiplayer bingo – a complete suite of 90-, 75-, 80/60/40‑ and 30‑ball variants, featuring progressive jackpots, Pot Booster and real‑time chat hosting.

Turn‑key iGaming platform – advanced Player Account Management (PAM), certified RNG, gamification engine and a WYSIWYG game‑configuration tool that lets operators launch new games in minutes.

Random State expects its first Ontario go‑live in Q3 2025, delivering both eInstants and multiplayer bingo on day one.

The post Random State obtains Ontario iGaming licence appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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