The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has fined Booming Games (Malta) Limited CA$70,000 (US$50,947) for a violation related to its slot games. The penalty follows the discovery that several titles supplied by the company featured an auto-play function, which had been accessible to players in Ontario for several months.
The regulator revealed the penalty on Thursday, indicating the breach was uncovered through "proactive and targeted compliance efforts." After identifying the issue, the AGCO instructed the operator to deactivate the auto-play feature immediately.
Under Ontario’s gaming regulations, the auto-play capability, which allows games to spin continuously without player interaction, is explicitly prohibited. The AGCO has expressed concerns that this feature poses an increased risk of prolonged gambling and reduces players' chances to pause and reflect on their gaming.
The AGCO’s investigation established that Booming Games did not adequately configure, test, or monitor the affected games around their launch in Ontario. This breach violated the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming, particularly the following requirements:
– Supplying slot games with an auto-play feature (Requirement 2 of Standard 2.16)
– Failing to perform ongoing monitoring and testing of gaming systems and equipment (Requirement 3 of Standard 4.09)
The fine was issued under the Gaming Control Act of 1992. Dr. Karin Schnarr, CEO and registrar of the AGCO, 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."
She added, "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 one of the most rigorous gaming standard frameworks in North America since the launch of its legal iGaming sector. This framework includes a complete ban on auto-play, enforced minimum time intervals between spins, and restrictions on features that may misrepresent losses as wins. The response to this regulatory environment has been positive, with the AGCO reporting that nearly 84% of gamblers engage on regulated platforms.
Gross gambling revenue (GGR) in Ontario reached CA$3.20 billion for the period between April 2024 and March 2025, representing a 32% increase from the prior year.
Suppliers are entitled to request a hearing from the Licence Appeal Tribunal, part of Tribunals Ontario, within 15 days of receiving a monetary penalty order.
