Rideau Carleton Casino penalised $227,250 by AGCO for 36 violations

AGCO

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has issued C$227,250 in monetary penalties to HR Ottawa for an array of regulatory violations at the Rideau Carleton Casino.

This follows an audit of the gaming establishment, with the move said to have been made “in order to protect the public interest and ensure Ontario’s casino gaming sector operates responsibly and with integrity”.

These breaches of the Registrar’s Standards for Gaming follow an AGCO inspection that assessed HR Ottawa’s compliance.

“The Standards exist to protect Ontarians and audits of gaming operators are one of the tools the AGCO regularly uses as part of its regulatory oversight of the gaming industry,” an AGCO media statement noted.

In total, 36 violations were identified which found that the property had allegedly provided advertising and marketing materials to individuals who had self-excluded from gambling activities.

Repeated failures to implement, follow, and enforce required anti-money laundering policies and procedures were also reportedly discovered, alongside an-address on matters of concern identified by internal auditors in a timely manner.

Furthermore, it is also said that the group had not ensured that staff completed necessary training in important areas like anti-money laundering policies and procedures, nor maintained a compliance oversight function that was not independent of the company’s operations, as is required.

Finally, the probe also alleges that HR Ottawa and the Rideau Carleton Casino venue failed to sufficiently protect gaming systems and data from security vulnerabilities, in accordance with established industry and technology good practices.

Tom Mungham, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of the AGCO, commented: “The AGCO has the mandate and the responsibility to ensure casinos are operating with honesty, integrity, and in the public interest. 

“These penalties are intended to drive the improvements needed at the Rideau Carleton Casino, and we will be carefully monitoring the casino’s activities to ensure these significant audit findings are addressed.”