Ontario, like other jurisdictions which regulate gambling, has stringent regulations that obligate casino operators to actively counteract acts of criminality such as cheating during live games. The state’s regulator, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), is vigilant in overseeing the market to enforce penalties when violations are discovered.
Earlier this year in April, five individuals were found guilty of foul play by the Ontario Provincial Police Investigation and Enforcement Bureau, a branch of the AGCO. The group was alleged to have collaborated with an electronic craps dealer to manipulate games at Toronto’s Woodbine Casino. In response to this incident, the registrar of the AGCO recently announced a compulsory financial penalty against Casino Woodbine. The CA$80,000 ($59,000) fine is a direct consequence of the allegations of the dishonest gameplay at the mentioned casino.
The probe carried out by the AGCO revealed certain shortcomings and established that Casino Woodbine had overlooked or neglected measures to prevent the alleged cheating conspiracy. The regulator stated that the venue failed to flag “considerable and unusual losses from the electronic craps game over a half-year duration.”
Furthermore, the AGCO unveiled that the dealer implicated in the cheating conspiracy had seven instances of procedural violation, including pushing dice inappropriately to patrons before closing the odds, yet he was allowed to continue dealing electronic craps.
Referring to video evidence, the regulator asserted that the electronic craps game “had inadequate oversight” and ignored established procedures and rules. The regulatory authority affirmed that suspicious gaming activities transpired when table game supervisors were absent.
AGCO Vows To Maintain Scrutiny Over Casino Woodbine
The announcement about the new financial penalty follows an augmentation in the strength of the AGCO last month with the enlistment of Karin Schnarr. Assigned the position of CEO and registrar, Schnarr joined the gambling watchdog and will commence her role starting September 18, 2023, as confirmed by the AGCO.
“In accordance to Ontario’s gaming laws, casino operators are required to establish efficient controls to restrict the possibilities of criminal activities, including cheating and collusion between patrons and casino employees,”
said the AGCO in a released statement.
Emphasizing on the prevailing rules, the AGCO cautioned Ontario operators about the necessity for implementing efficient security measures to curb cheating and collusion between casino goers and personnel along with other criminal offenses. It further stated that aside from the levied penalty, the AGCO will continue to monitor the operations of Casino Woodbine to ensure the enforcement of appropriate measures preventing fraudulent activities.
