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The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has imposed fines on BV Gaming Limited (BetVictor) and Fitzdares Canada Limited, totaling CA$30,000 (€20,762), for alleged violations of internet gaming standards.
The AGCO investigation revealed that both sports betting operators had offered bets on games from the Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League, and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League during the 2022-23 season.
According to Ontario's iGaming regulations, it is explicitly prohibited for sports betting operators to provide odds or accept wagers on minor league sports, including the three major junior hockey leagues of the Canadian Hockey League. Consequently, each operator has been fined CA$15,000 (€10,383) for the breaches. The operators have the option to appeal these penalties through the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT).
Dave Phillips, Chief Operating Officer of the AGCO, emphasized the commission's commitment to upholding the integrity of sports betting and protecting the integrity of sport as a whole. He stated, "This includes a clear prohibition on offering bets in Ontario on minor league sports, including Canadian major junior hockey. We will continue to carefully monitor Ontario's sports betting markets to ensure the public interest is protected."
The fines imposed on BV Gaming Limited and Fitzdares Canada Limited contribute to a total of €62.8 million in fines for 2023. According to research conducted by USA-Casino.com, the gambling industry witnessed a significant increase in fines in 2022, totaling €251,712,034 / $269,532,490, representing a 443.9% rise compared to the total fines of €44,753,969 / $48,642,992 in 2021.
By fLEXI tEAM
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