The Ontario Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO) has levied fines against BetMGM and PointsBet for purported breaches of regulations pertaining to advertising and incentives.

BetMGM Canada was slapped with a penalty notice amounting to $48,000 (29,974 pounds/35,565 euros/37,401 dollars) for alleged infractions of Registrar Internet Gaming Standards 2.04 and 2.05. These standards dictate that all operators’ marketing, advertising, and promotional endeavors must be accurate and not deceptive to players or misrepresent the product, including mandating that materials not imply that players have a higher likelihood of winning the more they wager. Moreover, Standard 2.05 forbids the dissemination of advertising and marketing materials that contain gambling inducements, bonuses, and points, unless on the licensed operator’s gaming website, and through direct advertising and marketing, and with the consent of active players.

PointsBet Canada was also issued a penalty notice of $30,000 for alleged violations of Standard 2.05.

In the meantime, Standard 2.04 stipulates that all operators’ marketing, advertising, and promotional activities must be truthful and not misleading to players or misrepresent the product, including requiring materials not to suggest that players have a greater chance of winning the more they spend.

In the ninth month of 2021, the Canadian province of Ontario unveiled new rules governing online wagering and officially launched the legal online gambling marketplace on the fourth of April.

The governing body responsible for alcohol and gaming in Ontario, known as the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), accused BetMGM Canada of breaching these regulations. This accusation stemmed from a “250,000 CAD Grand Opening Party” advertisement that was disseminated on the fourth and eleventh of April. The advertisement included a contest with a 100,000 CAD casino bonus.

BetMGM Canada also released a “Bellagio” advertisement, which presented an offer allowing users to receive a 10 CAD casino bonus for a 25 CAD wager. These tweets were published on the fourth, sixth, and eighth of April. Additionally, the operator shared numerous “Jimi Hendrix Free Spins Friday” promotions on Twitter on the eighth of April, offering users the opportunity to win 100 free spins.

The AGCO deemed these three instances as violations of Standard 2.05.

BetMGM Canada was also found to have violated Standard 2.04 due to a tweet released on the tenth of April, which asserted that “the more you bet, the higher your chances of winning.”

Meanwhile, PointsBet Canada was identified for potential breaches of Standard 2.05. The first alleged violation involved the posting of promotional posters for free-to-play games on GO trains and various products between the fourth and twenty-first of April.

Moreover, the AGCO declared that PointsBet Canada displayed promotional posters for free-to-play games at two GO train stations between the fourth and seventeenth of April.

The head of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), Tom Mungham, stated that the organization sets high standards for responsible gambling, player safety, and game integrity for all registered operators. The AGCO closely monitors these operators to ensure they meet their obligations under the Alcohol and Gaming Control Act and its outlined standards.

Both BetMGM Canada and PointsBet Canada have the right to appeal to the Licence Appeal Tribunal, an independent judicial body separate from the AGCO and part of the Ontario Court system.

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