AGCO issues $76,500 penalty to theScore for alleged responsible gambling failures

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has issued a monetary penalty of CA$105,000 ($76,500) to Score Media and Gaming, known as theScore, for alleged failures to meet the province’s responsible gambling standards.

According to the regulator, the penalty followed an investigation into theScore’s handling of a player who wagered around CA$2.5m over eight months and lost approximately CA$230,000.The AGCO said the customer lost nearly CA$100,000 in the first month and exhibited several indicators of high-risk play, including repeated requests for bonuses, loss-chasing behavior and emotional distress.

The Commission stated that theScore did not take sufficient steps to identify and address these warning signs. It also alleged that the operator relied on the player’s self-reported financial information instead of conducting proper verification, despite what the AGCO described as “clear red flags and inaccurate income documentation.”

The AGCO said these actions breached multiple sections of Ontario’s Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming, including those that require operators to monitor player behavior, prevent gambling-related harm and ensure staff are trained to promote safer play.

Good to know: In a similar move, AGCO fined Casino Days CA$54,000 for making a deceptive bonus offer

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

TheScore has the right to appeal the decision to the Licence Appeal Tribunal, an independent adjudicative body that hears appeals on regulatory matters in Ontario.

The AGCO said it will continue to enforce the Registrar’s Standards to ensure that all registered operators maintain the province’s responsible gambling obligations.

Carlos Mendez

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Odds tell a story long before the result does. When bettors learn to read that story properly, betting becomes a matter of discipline and value rather than emotion or guesswork.

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