The Toronto gaming regulator gave a local casino a six-figure fine for failing to identify and eliminate a cheating scheme involving two card dealers.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) Registrar charged Ontario Gaming GTA Limited Partnership, the Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto's owner, per a Wednesday announcement.
Key takeaways
- Two table-game dealers helped patrons win hands and overpaid them for their wins.
- The casino’s surveillance and supervising team didn't notice the infractions as they occurred.
- The casino was also charged in 2023 for having a dealer illegally help guests.
An investigation revealed two table-game dealers were in cahoots with a group of casino visitors, who made out with nearly $20,000 in winnings in less than a week.
The AGCO’s compliance review turned up information that exposed the dealers for three illegal acts: dealing cards face-up while they were supposed to remain face-down, overdrawing dealer’s cards, and overpaying for winning hands.
“Ontario’s registered casino operators have an obligation to ensure the integrity of game play in their casinos,” said Dr. Karin Schnarr, AGCO Chief Executive Officer and Registrar. “This includes a responsibility to detect and prevent collusion and cheating. The AGCO will continue to monitor and take all necessary steps to uphold the integrity of gaming in Ontario’s gaming sites.”
The probe also found the casino’s surveillance and supervisory team failed to detect any wrongdoing and casino staff didn't follow the necessary table auditing procedures put in place to detect issues such as overpayment.
All this comes after the Ontario Provincial Police Investigation and Enforcement Bureau, embedded within the AGCO, charged five individuals in connection with the scheme in March.
Falling short of regulations
This is the second time in recent years the Great Canadian Casino Resort was fined for letting its dealers engage in cheating.
In Sept. 2023, the AGCO fined the casino, then known as Casino Woodbine, $80,000 after it levied charges against five individuals.
An investigation revealed an electronic craps dealer helped patrons siphon money out of the casino's coffers.
It also noted the casino fell short of basic operating procedures, including a review of electronic craps financial reports, having supervisors at the craps table when suspicious activity occurred, following the basic rules of electronic craps, and allowing the dealer to continue working despite receiving seven procedural violations.
Casino operators who receive monetary punishments from the AGCO have the right to appeal the penalty to the Licence Appeal Tribunal, which settles disputes and is independent of the agency.
The AGCO, established in 1998, is in charge of regulating the entire Ontario province. It reports to the Ministry of the Attorney General under the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario Act, 2019.
