The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has imposed a $30,000 fine on NorthStar Gaming (Ontario). This penalty stems from NorthStar’s failure to restrict access to its platform, NorthStarBets.ca, solely to Ontario residents, alongside other regulatory violations.
AGCO’s Focus on Legal Integrity
AGCO remains committed to upholding the integrity of Ontario’s gaming sector. AGCO’s CEO and Registrar, Dr. Karin Schnarr, reinforced this stance, stating, “Ontario’s gaming sector is carefully regulated to ensure it’s conducted legally and with the public interest in mind.” She also emphasized that AGCO will continue taking “all appropriate steps” to ensure gaming operations adhere to provincial laws.
According to AGCO’s announcement, gaming sites registered in Ontario must limit their operations to within the province unless they have agreements with other provincial governments. NorthStarBets.ca’s failure to comply with this rule was discovered during an AGCO compliance check conducted through a third-party audit of registered gaming operators.
Beyond the location-based violation, NorthStar Gaming also faced criticism for its ongoing failure to submit requested data and documents to AGCO promptly. This delay in compliance heightened the severity of the penalty.
In addition to the financial penalty, AGCO is continuing to work with NorthStar Gaming to ensure these issues are resolved. Further enforcement actions could follow if NorthStar fails to comply. However, NorthStar has the right to appeal this decision to the Licence Appeal Tribunal, an independent body within Tribunals Ontario.
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