NorthStar Gaming fined $100,000 by Ontario’s AGCO
The gambling authority of Ontario has levied a fine of $100,000 on NorthStar Gaming for neglecting to implement the mandatory anti-money laundering measures on a player deemed as high risk. The agency stated that the account of the player was considered high risk due to their profession. In March 2…
The gambling authority of Ontario has levied a fine of $100,000 on NorthStar Gaming for neglecting to implement the mandatory anti-money laundering measures on a player deemed as high risk. The agency stated that the account of the player was considered high risk due to their profession. In March 2024, the account went beyond the amounts established by NorthStar Gaming as far as deposits were concerned, namely the company’s threshold of $25,000, which activated additional measures that were to be introduced as far as verifying the legitimacy of the funds. NorthStar Gaming has failed to perform the stipulated measures, resulting in a player continuing to deposit huge amounts for over a year. As of June 2025, the player deposited almost $190,000. AGCO stated that the company failed to identify the player as high risk, did not implement extra control measures, did not monitor the increased risk signals. The regulator pointed out the fact that NorthStar Gaming had the means to control the transaction and the account, but deposits have been made despite the fact that NorthStar Gaming was aware of the additional amounts deposited in the account of the player. Dr. Karin Schnarr, Registrar and CEO of the AGCO, said: Operators are the first line of defence against criminal activity in Ontario’s gaming market. Anti‑money laundering controls must be more than policies on paper. When risk indicators are triggered, operators are required to take active steps to help protect Ontario’s regulated gaming sector from being misused for criminal activity. The AGCO stressed that operators are expected to actively monitor and respond to AML risks rather than simply maintain written compliance policies. The fine is part of a broader approach by regulator to combat illegal gambling and money laundering. Recently, the AGCO has imposed a fine of $70,000 on Booming Games and Betty Gaming about €80,400 after failures in its age-verification systems. In July, Great Canadian Entertainment (GCE) received penalty for CA$120,000 by AGCO for casino software fails. NorthStar Gaming has the right to request a hearing before the Licence Appeal Tribunal within 15 days of receiving the order.