The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has imposed a fine of approximately €80,400 on Betty Gaming due to significant lapses in its age-verification processes, which permitted underage users to access its gambling platform, Betty.ca. This issue surfaced when a technical malfunction identified in November 2025 allowed nine individuals under the legal gambling age of 19 to create and fund gambling accounts. Additionally, 14 other underage players managed to register on the platform, although they did not deposit any funds.
The AGCO found that Betty Gaming violated the province's gaming regulations by permitting these underage players to open accounts and by failing to conduct the necessary checks on player information prior to registration. According to the regulations, gambling operators in Ontario are obligated to verify player eligibility and ensure that all account information is correctly submitted.
The penalty relates to breaches of the Registrar's Standards for Gaming, which mandate that companies prevent underage individuals from creating accounts, logging in, or participating in online gambling. In Ontario, individuals must be at least 19 years old to engage in online gambling, while those aged 18 and older may buy lottery tickets online.
Dr. Karin Schnarr, CEO and Registrar of the AGCO, stated, "The legal age requirement is one of the most basic and important safeguards in Ontario’s regulated gaming market. Young people must not be able to create accounts, deposit money, or gamble online. Registered operators are responsible for making sure their systems work before those systems go live. When those responsibilities are not met, we will take action to protect young people and uphold confidence in Ontario’s regulated market."
