AGCO names PointsBet in latest enforcement action

PointsBet has been named as part of the latest enforcement action by the Registar of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). The company, which is a licensed and regulated operator in Ontario, has been served with a $150,000 fine in relation to violations of the province’s responsible gambling policies and requirements.

According to the regulator, which posted a detailed breakdown of the case and why the fine was issued, PointsBet had committed several infringements of the Registar’s Standards for Internet Gaming. Amongst those was one case in which a player lost more than $500,000 in three months.

The system that the operator used did flag the player as a potentially high-risk customer, but no intervention followed, the regulator described in the press statement. The player exhibited various signs of problem gambling, including withdrawal cancellation. AGCO CEO and Registar Dr. Karin Schnarr said:

"In Ontario, igaming operators have an obligation to proactively monitor their patrons’ play for signs of high-risk gambling, and to take appropriate actions to intervene and reduce the potential for gambling-related harms. The AGCO will continue to focus on player protection by holding all registered operators to these high standards."

PointsBet for its part also failed to enforce a 24-hour cool-off period which is usually enacted when a player changes their per-day deposit limit. The operator is also said to have communicated various promotional materials and bonus inducements without consent. The player in question had also asked not to be offered or targeted by direct gambling advertisement, but PointsBet still credited up to $35,500 in bonus money.

According to AGCO, PointsBet’s employees in charge of customer care were not completely aware of or ignored the issue with the player. AGCO argued that all employees must be "adequately trained" and respond in the appropriate manner when looking to help players who may be suffering from gambling-related harm.

AGCO has not hesitated to target the regulated as well as unregulated market, with Ontario, previously a fairly welcoming province, now focusing firmly on the licensed market and ensuring that operators without a permit are targeted by enforcement actions as well. Earlier this year, AGCO went after several companies, some of which are established names in the industry.

Although AGCO is still not targeting unlicensed companies in the same manner as say the Australian Media and Communication Authority, the regulator is still taking care after the regulated market in the province.

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