AGCO Hits theScore with C$105,000 Fine for Failure to Meet Responsible Gaming Standards

^{Pictured above is AGCO CEO Dr. Karin Schnarr, who feels that operators essentially have a fundamental responsibility to intervene when problem gambling behaviors are detected. (Photo: IAGR / Youtube)}

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has fined theScore C$105,000 for failing to enforce responsible gambling standards, specifically in the case of one player who exhibited high-risk behavior over several months.

According to the AGCO investigation, that gambler bet approximately C$2.5 million over the course of eight months, losing C$230,000 in the process.

AGCO: Operator Relied Too Heavily on Player Self-Assessments

The AGCO says that theScore failed to act despite clear warning signs, including the player requesting additional bonuses, chasing their losses, and allegedly showing signs of distress to a VIP host.

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

The AGCO found that theScore chose to rely primarily on the player’s self-assessments rather than review their play patterns or questionable documentation submitted prior. This led to multiple missed opportunities when the operator could have stepped in to intervene.

AGCO Oversees Growing Ontario Gaming Market

The AGCO has implemented a strict set of rules for player monitoring since Ontario’s regulated iGaming market first launched in 2022. 

The regulator has not hesitated to issue penalties against operators that fall short in their regulatory duties since then. In October 2024, the AGCO fined NorthStar Gaming Holdings Incorporated approximately $21,700 for issues with the geolocation software the company was implementing. The AGCO is also responsible for overseeing land-based gambling, and has issued fines in 2025 to brick-and-mortar casinos for miscellaneous violations. 

Occasional issues aside, the implementation of online gambling in Ontario has been a clear success, at least financially. Earlier in 2025, Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Gaming Stan Cho projected that the province would exceed C$10 billion in total gaming revenue in 2025. That includes a projected C$6.82 billion from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation along with another C$3.7 billion from iGaming Ontario (iGO). 

Those numbers have made Ontario one of the largest online gambling markets in North America. Over its first three years in operation, Ontario ranked second only behind the state of Michigan in total online gaming revenue, while leading all states and provinces in sports betting revenue.