The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has fined Booming Games (Malta) Limited CA$70,000 (approximately US$50,947) after it found that multiple slot titles from the company featured a prohibited auto-play function available to players in Ontario for several months.
This enforcement action was revealed on Thursday, with the AGCO stating that the violation was identified through targeted compliance checks. Following the discovery, the Commission directed the immediate disabling of the auto-play feature in the affected games.
The auto-play function allows players to spin slots repeatedly without interaction, which the AGCO strictly prohibits under Ontario’s game-design regulations. The Commission expressed that such features heighten the risk of extended gambling and may lead to health concerns by reducing opportunities for players to take breaks and evaluate their gaming habits.
An investigation by the AGCO discovered that Booming Games did not adequately configure, test, and monitor certain slot titles prior to and following their release in Ontario. The infractions pertained to violations of the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming, specifically:
– Supplying slot games with auto-play, violating Requirement 2 of Standard 2.16
– Neglecting ongoing monitoring and testing of gaming systems and supplies, breaching Requirement 3 of Standard 4.09
The fine was issued under the authority of the Gaming Control Act of 1992. Dr. Karin Schnarr, the AGCO’s CEO and registrar, highlighted the seriousness of these violations, noting, “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 most stringent iGaming standards in North America since legalizing the sector. These regulations include a total ban on auto-play, minimum intervals between spins, and restrictions on features that may misrepresent losses as wins.
The province has reported widespread acceptance of these regulations, with AGCO data indicating that nearly 84% of players engage on licensed platforms. From April 2024 to March 2025, gross gambling revenue reached CA$3.20 billion, marking a 32% increase from the previous year.
The Licence Appeal Tribunal, which operates under Tribunals Ontario, grants registered suppliers up to 15 days to appeal a monetary penalty order.
