The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) conducted an investigation and identified numerous violations by the company:
- Ignoring the difficulties and inappropriate behavior of customers, indicative of possible gambling addiction;
- Failing to observe a "cooling-off period" of one day when players cancel their daily deposit limits;
- Sending advertising for bonuses and credits without player consent.
AGCO noted that PointsBet did not ensure compliance with the code of responsible gaming and failed to provide appropriate training to its employees.
The company has the right to appeal the registrar's actions to the License Appeal Tribunal (LAT), an independent judicial body in Ontario.
AGCO’s Chief Executive Officer and Registrar, Karin Schnarr, stated: “In Ontario, interactive gaming operators are required to monitor their customers' gaming process and take appropriate measures in case of signs of gambling addiction. It is important to prevent potential harm from gaming in a timely manner.”
Additionally, this month AGCO imposed a fine of CA$80,000 on Ontario Gaming GTA, the operator of Casino Woodbine in Toronto, for a fraud incident.
Furthermore, AGCO updated standards for internet gaming, banning the use of athletes' images in advertisements due to their popularity among minors.
The new restrictions will come into effect on February 28, 2024.
