The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has imposed fines totaling CA$40,000 on Arrise Solutions and Relax Gaming. This action follows an investigation revealing that their casino games were accessible to players in Ontario via unregulated websites.
Both companies, which hold licenses from AGCO, were found to be in violation of provincial regulations that prohibit licensed operators from providing games to unlicensed platforms. AGCO's CEO, Dr. Karin Schnarr, emphasized the importance of a regulated iGaming market, stating that unregulated sites pose risks to players, including unfair games and lack of timely withdrawals.
In response to the findings, the companies have fully cooperated with the investigation and acted swiftly to limit access for Ontario players on these unregulated sites.
Arrise Solutions is known for powering Pragmatic Play, a leading provider of online casino games, while Relax Gaming continues to be active in the sweepstakes casino market and supplies games to major North American operators like DraftKings and BetMGM.
Following the AGCO's announcement, Gambling Insider tested access to Relax Gaming titles on the McLuck platform using VPNs based in both the U.S. and Ontario. The results showed that while Relax Gaming's titles were available through the U.S. connection, they were not accessible from Ontario.
This enforcement action by the AGCO reflects a growing trend of regulatory scrutiny on gaming suppliers associated with unregulated gambling activities, particularly in North America.