The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has fined Booming Games (Malta) Limited CA$70,000 (US$50,947) for violations related to the auto-play feature in some slot titles offered to players in Ontario. This penalty was announced Thursday, following the discovery that several games supplied by the company contained a prohibited auto-play option for several months.
The issue was identified through the AGCO's proactive compliance efforts. Upon notification of the violation, the regulator mandated the immediate deactivation of the auto-play functionality in the affected games.
Under Ontario’s game-design standards, the auto-play feature, which allows players to spin slots continuously without any interaction, is expressly banned due to its potential to encourage extended gambling periods by reducing the chance for players to pause and reflect on their gaming habits.
The AGCO’s investigation revealed that Booming Games “failed to properly configure, test and monitor certain games before and after they launched in Ontario.” The infractions included violating the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming, specifically:
1. Providing slot games with auto-play (Requirement 2 of Standard 2.16).
2. Neglecting to conduct ongoing monitoring and testing of gaming systems and supplies (Requirement 3 of Standard 4.09).
This fine was issued under the authority of the Gaming Control Act, 1992. Dr. Karin Schnarr, AGCO’s CEO and registrar, stressed the seriousness of the violation, stating, “Ontario’s game design standards are fundamental player-protection measures built into the regulated iGaming market – they are not optional technical requirements. Registered suppliers must have effective controls in place to prevent prohibited features from reaching Ontario players. When those safeguards are not respected, the AGCO will take regulatory action.”
Ontario has established some of the strictest game-design standards in North America since launching its regulated iGaming market, including a total ban on auto-play, minimum time intervals between spins, and rules against features that can make losses appear as wins. Notably, in the last fiscal year, the province's legal gaming framework garnered significant compliance, with almost 84% of players choosing regulated sites. From April 2024 to March 2025, the gross gambling revenue (GGR) reached CA$3.20 billion, reflecting a 32% increase over the prior year.
Suppliers have up to 15 days to request a hearing from the Licence Appeal Tribunal after receiving a monetary penalty order.
