The gaming regulatory body in Ontario, known as AGCO, has imposed a financial penalty of $100,000 CAD (roughly $74,387 USD) on Apollo Entertainment. This sanction follows the discovery that the company fell short in meeting several of Ontario’s responsible gaming obligations.
In essence, AGCO determined that Apollo Entertainment was not taking adequate measures to safeguard its players from potential risks. This included deficiencies in providing staff with proper training on responsible gaming protocols and an absence of vital safety measures such as deposit restrictions and mechanisms for self-exclusion. Adding to the gravity of the situation, there was a reported instance of a player incurring losses exceeding $200,000 CAD within a span of just four months, without any intervention from Apollo Entertainment.
It is worth noting that Apollo Entertainment seems to be acknowledging the seriousness of AGCO’s findings and is reportedly undertaking efforts to rectify the identified issues. They retain the option to contest the decision if they so choose.
The Ontario regulator for alcohol and gambling, the AGCO, is emphasizing the appeal rights of operators who’ve been notified of potential penalties. These operators can contest these notices through the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), a separate judicial body within the Ontario court framework, entirely independent of the AGCO.
The AGCO prioritizes a secure and equitable online gambling environment in Ontario. Their aim is to ensure player enjoyment while upholding robust player safeguards. The AGCO’s Registrar and CEO, Tom Mungham, underscored the responsibility of these enterprises to remain vigilant for problematic gambling behaviors, identify red flags, and intervene when individuals require assistance. The overarching goal is to mitigate potential gambling-related harms.