The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has fined sports betting operator DraftKings Canada $100,000 for violating advertising and inducement standards of the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming.
The AGCO says that between May 19-31, DraftKings violated Standard 2.05, which bans advertising of inducements, bonuses or credits, except when a user is on the operator’s website or gives consent to receive the offers. The sportsbook operator aired multiple inducements of boosted odds during the NHL playoffs on television and social media.
DraftKings issued this statement: “We are committed to complying with all applicable regulations in every jurisdiction in which we operate. Upon being informed of the potential issue shortly after our launch, we took immediate action to remove the assets in question.”
AGCO CEO and Registrar Tom Mungham said in a statement: “The AGCO will continue to monitor the activities of all registered operators and hold them to high standards of responsible gambling, player protection, and game integrity. It is in the public interest that we ensure they are meeting their obligations under Ontario’s Gaming Control Act and the Standards.”
PointsBet Canada and BetMGM Canada were also fined for similar infractions about a month after the market went live.
