Ottawa Hard Rock Casino Slapped with Hefty Fine for Numerous Gaming Violations

The Ottawa, Canada, Hard Rock Casino is staring down a substantial penalty of $227,250 CAD (approximately $173,850 USD) due to a shocking 36 breaches of Ontario’s gaming rules. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) unearthed numerous violations, including an inability to correctly execute anti-money laundering measures and even distributing marketing content to people who had opted out of gambling activities.

These problems, identified during an AGCO audit, allegedly transpired at the Rideau Carleton Casino, managed by Hard Rock Ottawa. The establishment also neglected to resolve issues flagged by its own internal auditors and didn’t sufficiently safeguard its gaming platforms and information from possible security compromises. Moreover, the AGCO alleges that the casino fell short in guaranteeing its personnel received adequate instruction in critical domains such as anti-money laundering regulations and practices.

Tom Mungham, the AGCO’s CEO and Registrar, stressed that the regulatory body will be closely monitoring the casino’s operations going forward. “The AGCO is obligated to ensure casinos are run with honesty, integrity, and in a way that safeguards the public interest,” he declared. The AGCO intends for these sanctions to serve as a serious warning, compelling the Rideau Carleton Casino to rectify its conduct.

Similar to other gaming venues in Ontario, the Ottawa Hard Rock Casino possesses the ability to challenge decisions issued by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). They have the option to submit an appeal to an autonomous legal entity called the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT). This detail is pertinent because DraftKings Canada was recently penalized $100,000 by the AGCO for breaching Ontario’s regulations concerning advertising and promotions.