The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) hit Score Media and Gaming Inc., known as “theScore,” with a $105,000 fine for shortcomings related to responsible gambling.
The regulator accused the company of several violations of the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming designed to monitor and prevent irresponsible behavior.
Key Takeaways
- The company allegedly allowed a customer to wager $2.5 million over eight months uninterrupted.
- The AGCO found repeated attempts from the customer to obtain bonuses.
- theScore Bet has operated in Ontario since early 2022.
The AGCO announced Tuesday that theScore was found guilty of three violations.
First, the company allegedly failed to address a customer who wagered $2.5 million and lost $230,000 over eight months. The same user lost $100,000 in their first month of gaming.
It also allegedly ignored behavior that indicated a gambling addiction. The user repeatedly inquired about having bonuses added to their account, suggesting they were attempting to chase their losses.
Finally, the company is said to have ignored “clear red flags and inaccurate income documentation” and used the customer’s self-assessments as a basis to allow them to continue gambling uninterrupted.
In total, theScore was found to have broken three sections of the Standards.
Those include Section 2.01, which instructs operators to create and uphold policies to identify and minimize financial harm caused by irresponsible gaming; Section 2.10, which instructs operators to use a mechanism to monitor player accounts and behaviors; and Section 2.12, which mandates that employees understand the importance of responsible gambling and consumer safety.
Focused on consumer protection
The AGCO was established to help increase customer safety when Ontario’s regulated iGaming market was launched in 2022.
In serving as the province’s regulator, it is in charge of creating and upholding a variety of standards related to consumer protection and exercising its authority over operators who do not meet its expectations.
“Player protections are a fundamental requirement for any gambling operator looking to conduct business in Ontario,” said Dr. Karin Schnarr, AGCO chief executive officer and registrar. “When operators fail to uphold these critical safer gambling standards, they not only betray the trust of their players but also undermine the integrity of Ontario’s regulated igaming market.”
theScore can appeal the fine to the Licence Appeal Tribunal, an independent adjudicator for AGCO matters.
theScore’s history in Canada
Score Media and Gaming Inc. is a digital media and betting company headquartered in Toronto. It was founded in 2012 and sold to Penn Entertainment for $2 billion in cash and stocks in August 2021.
It was licensed to operate as an Ontario sports betting outfit in April 2022 as part of the province’s launch for private operators.
