AGCO reminds operators that all promotions must comply with standards
Ontario regulator reminds casinos that ‘free play’ promotions must be genuinely free
Key Points
- AGCO clarified that any “free play” promotion must involve no financial risk for the player
- Misleading promotions can contribute to financial harm and damage public trust in the industry
- Non-compliance with Standard 2.2.2 may lead to penalties or further enforcement actions
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has issued a reminder to all licensed land-based casinos and charitable gaming operators: Any offer advertised as “free play” must comply with Standard 2.2.2 of the Registrar’s Standards for Gaming.
This standard requires that players should not need to risk or spend their own money to access any bonus, inducement or credit described as “free.”
According to the AGCO, promotions that fail to meet this condition are considered misleading and may be subject to regulatory action such as financial penalties.
This reminder follows recent changes to AGCO’s responsible gambling training requirements and reflects its efforts to tighten oversight in Ontario’s gaming sector.
The AGCO emphasized that misleading “free play” advertising could undermine responsible gambling efforts by encouraging players to overspend. An example of a non-compliant offer would be one that reimburses a player’s losses only after they gamble with their own money despite being marketed as free.
Good to know: Casino Days was fined CA$54,000 earlier this year by AGCO for offering a deceptive bonus to Ontario players
Earlier this year, AGCO also warned media outlets against promoting unlicensed gambling platforms, reinforcing its stance on advertising integrity and player protection.
The regulator also encouraged operators to review all marketing materials to ensure compliance with the standards.
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