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Read Full BioWell Played Media, the operator behind Casino Days, has been fined CA$54,000 by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) after being accused of deceptive bonus practices.
This follows an investigation by the AGCO in which a player complained that over CA$8,500 in winnings had been seized by the operator. The platform was offering a “welcome bonus” that promised new players up to CA$2,000.
However, in order to qualify for the full amount, players had to fulfill numerous requirements that investigators say were overly stringent and difficult to find.
- Deposit CA$2,000 of their own money
- Wager CA$70,000 (35 times the deposit)
- Keep each wager at or under CA$5
- Complete all wagering requirements within seven days
“Player protection is a non-negotiable priority for the AGCO,” Karin Schnarr, CEO and Registrar of the AGCO, said in a statement. “We expect operators to be truthful and transparent about their promotions, and we also require them to ensure that those promotions do not encourage reckless or harmful patterns of play.”
Investigation Found Platform Failed to Protect Players
Analysis conducted by the AGCO revealed that the average player would initially lose approximately $3,640 when attempting to earn the $2,000 bonus.
Ontario’s iGaming rules prohibit licensed operators from offering bonus promotions that could foster harmful gambling practices and fail to outline key qualifying conditions properly. Operators are also prohibited from enticing players with promotional offers that cannot be reasonably achieved without experiencing significant losses beforehand.
The AGCO determined that Well Played Media violated all these terms.
“An offer that requires a player to sustain substantial losses for a perceived benefit is not a fair offer,” the AGCO said. “This penalty sends a clear signal that we will not hesitate to take action against operators who fail to meet their obligations to protect Ontario players.”
As with any operator served with an Order of Monetary Penalty by the AGCO, Well Played Media may file a formal appeal to the Licenses Appeal Tribunal (LAT), an independent body associated with Tribunals Ontario.
‘Ensuring the Integrity of Game Play’ a Priority for AGCO
Casino Days advertises itself as the “premier online casino destination in Ontario,” featuring over 6,000 different games, including slots, table games, and live dealers.
Although it is regulated in Ontario, the AGCO’s recent action highlights the challenge of protecting players to promote market integrity.
In April, the AGCO fined the Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto CA$120,000 for failing to detect cheating and dealer collusion.
The penalty came after charges were brought against five individuals following an investigation into alleged collusion between a group of casino patrons and two table dealers. A subsequent AGCO compliance review confirmed that the dealers had engaged in the scheme, allowing patrons to win over CA$20,000 illegally within a seven-day period.
The same casino was fined CA$80,000 in 2023 after failing to detect a similar scheme.
Following the most recent violation, Schnarr said Ontario’s registered operators “have an obligation to ensure the integrity” of game play – including detecting and preventing collusion and cheating – and promised the AGCO would “continue to monitor and take all necessary steps” to ensure it happens.
