The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has recently imposed a C$70,000 monetary penalty on Booming Games Limited. The fines come after it was discovered that the operator offered prohibited auto-play features to Ontario players across multiple slot games for several months.
Auto-play is a function that allows players to automatically initiate consecutive slot spins without manually starting each bet. However, the feature is banned in Ontario as the province believes removing the need to start a spin actively can reduce options for players to pause, assess their gambling activities and decide whether to continue.
Under Ontario’s iGaming requirements, players must manually start each spin, creating a deliberate pause between wagers. AGCO, which oversees the market, said this can help maintain player awareness and control, limit prolonged and uninterrupted play, and reduce the potential for gambling-related harm.
Booming Games’ Failings
After an investigation, the regulator found that Booming Games failed to properly configure, test and monitor certain games before and after their launch in Ontario. As a registered gaming supplier, the company is responsible for ensuring its games comply with Ontario’s standards before being offered to players and throughout their lifecycle.
The issue was identified through the AGCO’s proactive and targeted compliance activities. Then, the regulator notified the operator, after which the auto-play functionality was disabled on the impacted games.
Dr Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of the AGCO, said that Ontario’s casino game design standards are fundamental player-protection measures built into the regulated iGaming market, and 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,” explained Schnarr.
The C$70,000 penalty relates to violations of the province’s Gaming Control Act, 1992 and its regulations. AGCO said Booming Games violated Requirement 2 of Standard 2.16 by providing slot games containing auto-play features.
The supplier also breached Requirement 3 of Standard 4.09 by failing to conduct monitoring and testing throughout the life of its gaming system and gaming supplies, meaning the products were not demonstrated to be operating as approved.
Ontario Touts Strict Game-Design Model
Currently, Ontario has some of the strictest online game-design requirements in North America, with player protection built directly into the design and operation of casino games.
The province does not allow auto-play on slots and requires minimum periods between spins. It also prohibits features that can disguise losses as wins through celebratory sounds or other misleading feedback. These rules are intended to limit excessive speed, intensity and continuity of play while giving players more opportunities to make informed decisions.
Therefore, the AGCO’s recent action against Booming Games highlights that these requirements apply not only to operators but also to registered suppliers whose games are offered in the province.
Nevertheless, Booming Games has the right to request a hearing before the Licence Appeal Tribunal, which is an independent adjudicative body within Tribunals Ontario. The company has up to 15 days after being served with the Order of Monetary Penalty to contest the decision. However, so far there has been no indication that it will fight the fine.
Ontario’s iGaming Sector Grows Larger
In April 2022, Ontario wrote history, becoming the first Canadian province to open its online gaming sector to third-party gaming and betting operators. Under the current framework, online casinos can enter the sector by obtaining operating agreements with iGaming Ontario, while the AGCO provides regulatory oversight.
Since its launch, the iGaming sector has become one of the leading North American markets for regulated online gambling. In the 2024-25 fiscal year, iGO said 50 operators were active during the third year of the market. They generated more than C$82.7 billion in wagers and C$2.9 billion in gaming revenue, with more than 2.6 million active player accounts.
The latest monthly performance data covers activity through June 2026, which reflects the continued expansion of the regulated market. iGO's figures cover operators operating under agreements with the agency and exclude OLG's separate iGaming offering and pari-mutuel horse-racing wagers.
With the market’s rapid growth, regulators have continued to emphasise compliance with Ontario's player-protection framework. The Booming Games penalty demonstrates that enforcement extends beyond gambling operators to suppliers responsible for ensuring that game mechanics meet the province's standards before and after products reach players.
Alberta Follows Ontario’s Footsteps
Four years after Ontario opened up its sector for private iGaming brands, Alberta also took that step. On July 13, 2026, Alberta became the second Canadian jurisdiction to allow third-party operators in its legal framework.
According to the Alberta iGaming Corporation, on the first day of the market, a total of 22 online casinos made their debut after getting regulatory approval from the local gaming watchdog. Still, since then, even more leading brands have made their debut.
“Our focus has been clear from the start: to protect Albertans, especially young people, and ensure that those who choose online gaming can do so in a responsible environment,” said Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Minister Dale Nally
Similar to Ontario, Alberta should be able to provide a safe and regulated iGaming environment, while also keeping tax revenue from online gambling within the province. Then, it can be reinvested into community initiatives and player protections.
