The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has again come down hard on a Toronto Casino after an impromptu after-party occurred on the gaming floor.
Key Takeaways
- The AGCO has fined Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto $350,000 for allowing an unsanctioned after-party on the gaming floor that led to assaults, drug overdoses, and public indecency.
- The casino reportedly failed to control the crowd and neglected to report the incident properly, including partygoers climbing onto slot machines.
- This marks the third fine for the casino in three months.
According to an AGCO release Thursday, Great Canadian Casino Resort has been fined $350,000 following a rowdy and unruly night reportedly fueled by drugs and public indecency.
The event reportedly took place in September 2024, following an electric dance music event. Per the release, upwards of several thousand people were hosted at a theatre adjacent to the Great Canadian Casino Resort.
“The event was marked by widespread intoxication, disorderly behavior, and numerous criminal and medical incidents - both inside and outside the venue - including alleged assaults, drug overdoses, and acts of public indecency,” the release outlined. “Although paid duty officers were present, additional police and emergency services were required to manage the situation.”
Following the event, the AGCO reports that casino management approved the performing artist's unscheduled request to host an after-party, as more than 400 guests, including the artists, were brought onto the gaming floor.
From there, things only got more rowdy, as the artists were said to have performed amidst operational table games and machines. This led to security personnel ineffectively maintaining order, and some individuals even reportedly climbed onto slot machines.
"Casino operators have a fundamental duty to control their gaming environment,” said Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar at the AGCO. “Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto’s lapses in this incident compromised the safety of patrons and the security and integrity of the gaming floor."
Great Canadian Casino also reportedly failed to report these incidents in the immediate aftermath of the event as required, leading to the hefty $350,000 fine. That penalty, explained in the release as contrary to section 1.17.2 of the Standards, accounted for $125,000 in penalties, while the remaining $225,000 came from failures to ensure the relevant competence of employees and creating a disturbance harmful to individuals.
Latest fine to hit Great Canadian
The newest fine is just the latest in a string of fines levied against the Toronto-area Casino, and the third six-figure fine in the last three months.
In May, the AGCO issued fines of over $150,000 to Great Canadian Entertainment after failing to verify patrons' ages. In April, an investigation uncovered a major cheating ring among dealers that helped visitors make out with over $20,000 in winnings over mere days thanks to a host of illegal acts, including overdrawing dealers' cards and overpaying winners' hands.
“Ontario’s registered casino operators have an obligation to ensure the integrity of gameplay in their casinos,” said Dr. Schnarr. “This includes a responsibility to detect and prevent collusion and cheating. The AGCO will continue to monitor and take all necessary steps to uphold the integrity of gaming in Ontario’s gaming sites.”
