AGCO fines Booming Games CA$70,000 over auto-play breach

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has imposed a fine of $70,000 on Booming Games (Malta) Limited for offering several slot games containing the feature of auto-play to operators in Ontario, which is not allowed. The AGCO stated that the auto-play has been in use for several months before the regulator discovered it. After that, Booming Games had to update those games, making the auto-play feature unavailable. The province has banned the auto-play option in its online casino sector since the launch of its iGaming market. The AGCO believes that the auto-play option brings the risk into gambling by restricting the opportunity to think about it during the game process. AGCO CEO and Registrar Dr Karin Schnarr said: 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. The regulator has discovered that Booming Games failed to ensure proper operation of certain games before and after their introduction to Ontario. In particular, the company has violated the rules on Internet gaming by supplying games with the auto-play option and failing to monitor their performance continuously. The penalty was issued according to Ontario’s Gaming Control Act. Registered suppliers have to chance to change the decision of the regulator during a hearing conducted within 15 days after the imposition of the fine.