Ontario Gaming Operator Faces Financial Penalty for Inadequate Responsible Gaming Practices
An Ontario-based iGaming operator has been penalized with a CA$100,000 (US$74,337) fine for not adhering to responsible gaming regulations in relation to online casino operations.
Apollo Entertainment Ltd, a company based in Malta, operates various online gaming websites in Ontario. Their platforms include Captain Cooks, Golden Tiger, Grand Mondial, and Yukon Gold.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) recently concluded an investigation into the licensed iGaming operator, discovering that Apollo Entertainment committed multiple violations of the province's Standards for Internet Gaming.
In April 2019, Ontario lawmakers decided to end the province's iGaming monopoly run by the Ontario Lottery and opened up the market for bids from external operators. In 2020, a regulatory framework was established, and Ontario's commercial iGaming market began operations on April 4, 2022.
Apollo Entertainment is not connected to Apollo Global Management, a New York-based private equity firm that purchased Great Canadian Gaming Entertainment for $1.9 billion in September 2021.
Alleged Deficiencies
Officials from the AGCO have stated that Apollo's iGaming sites have violated various regulatory areas since launching their operations last year.
Government officials have alleged that the Apollo platforms have not intervened with players who might be experiencing gambling-related issues. They mentioned an instance where an online player lost over CA$2 million (US$148,536) in less than four months without being contacted by responsible gambling interventionists. This is in contrast to the Registrar's Standards for Internet Gaming that dictate such contact should occur.
The AGCO also claims that Apollo lacks a sufficient voluntary self-exclusion program or tools to help players set spending and time-based gambling limits. Additionally, the gaming regulatory agency maintains that Apollo did not ensure their staff understood the importance of promoting responsible play and assisting players who may be developing harmful habits, a crucial component of Ontario's iGaming industry.
The AGCO strives to ensure that Ontarians can safely enjoy online gambling on sites that are fair, responsible, and offer important player protections. All registered operators are obligated to proactively monitor gameplay for signs of problem gambling and take appropriate action to intervene and reduce the potential for gambling-related harm, according to Tom Mungham, CEO and Registrar of the AGCO.
The AGCO's statement on the regulatory penalty indicates that the fine was determined according to AGCO guidelines.
Potential Appeal
Under Ontario's iGaming regulatory climate, Apollo Entertainment can appeal the AGCO's penalty to the License Appeal Tribunal (LAT), an adjudicative tribunal that is part of the AGCO and Tribunals Ontario. The regulatory agency claims that the iGaming operator has been cooperative and has already started taking corrective measures.
Apollo has actively responded to the AGCO's regulatory findings since becoming aware of the problems and has already implemented significant measures to enhance the control environment on its sites to address the areas of concern identified by the AGCO, the statement said.
Apollo's iGaming platforms now include a "Responsible Gaming Policy" featured at the bottom of their websites. This policy emphasizes the importance of considering gambling as a form of entertainment and provides guidelines for safe and responsible gaming.
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Source: www.casino.org
