The Registrar of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has fined Ontario Gaming GTA Limited Partnership, the company behind Toronto’s Woodbine Casino, CA$80,000 (US$59,114) for an alleged cheat-at-play dealer scheme in place at the venue. Five people were charged in April 2023 after an investigation by the Ontario Provincial Police Investigation and Enforcement Bureau (IEB).
The individuals involved are charged with collusion surrounding games of electronic craps in which a dealer was part of a scheme benefiting casino patrons. An investigation was also undertaken by the AGCO’s Regulatory Compliance Branch, which found that Woodbine Casino failed to either take action against or prevent the cheat-at-play scheme.
The review found that Woodbine Casino did not adhere to the Gaming Control Act of 1992, and that the casino did not take action to resolve either: substantial, anomalous losses from craps games over six months; absences of table game supervisors during suspicious play; and failures to follow standard rules and procedures (shown on surveillance recordings).
The dealer in question was also permitted to keep a role dealing electronic craps after previously being issued with seven violations for pushing dice to guests before closing bets. Ontario law necessitates casino operators’ enactment of, and adherence to, measures that mitigate the risk of criminal and cheating activities.
Casino Woodbine accepted the AGCO’s regulatory review, but has a right to appeal the Notice of an Issued Monetary Penalty via a Licence Appeal Tribunal. In addition to the fine, the AGCO will keep monitoring the activity at Woodbine Casino to make sure that any dealer collusion will be detected and prevented in future.
In August, the AGCO also issued a fine of CA$100,000 to Apollo Entertainment.
