The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has imposed a C$105,000 fine on theScore after identifying multiple breaches of responsible gambling and player protection standards. The penalty follows a detailed compliance review in which the AGCO determined that the operator failed to intervene in a case involving a high-risk player who wagered C$2.5 million and lost approximately C$230,000 over eight months.
According to the regulator, theScore did not adequately respond to escalating signs of risk, including loss-chasing and visible distress, which should have triggered responsible gambling interventions. The AGCO further noted that the operator accepted questionable income documentation and failed to verify the player’s affordability, missing several opportunities to mitigate harm.
AGCO CEO and Registrar Dr. Karin Schnarr stressed that player protection is a fundamental requirement for all operators, warning that failures to meet safer gambling obligations jeopardise both consumer trust and market integrity. The regulator’s enforcement action reflects its ongoing commitment to ensuring Ontario’s iGaming market operates safely and responsibly.
The AGCO cited breaches of the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming, including standards 2.01, 2.10, and 2.12, all of which address monitoring, intervention, and harm prevention. By failing to comply, theScore also contravened section 3.8 of the Gaming Control Act, 1992.
The company now has the right to appeal the decision to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT). The case reinforces the AGCO’s message that compliance with responsible gambling frameworks is non-negotiable in Ontario’s regulated gaming landscape.
