Great Canadian Entertainment Fined over Unauthorized Casino System Software
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TORONTO: Ontario’s gaming regulator has fined Great Canadian Entertainment $120,000 over unauthorized casino system software.
The penalty puts casino system integrity under scrutiny because the software was linked to bill validators, which process cash and support anti-money laundering controls.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario said the penalties relate to unauthorized gaming system software used at multiple Ontario casino sites. The regulator described the matter as a serious compliance failure because casino software must be tested, monitored and approved before it is used in live gaming environments.
Unauthorized Software Found at Four Casinos
The AGCO penalty against Great Canadian Entertainment followed a review of 40 instances in which revoked or unapproved bill-validator software had been installed. The regulator said the installations occurred across four casino sites between February 20 and March 15, 2025.
Bill validators are components inside electronic gaming machines that accept and process cash. The AGCO said they also support anti-money laundering controls, making approval and monitoring requirements important to the integrity, safety and security of casino gaming.
The regulator said gaming equipment and software must be tested and approved before deployment in casinos. Those requirements are designed to confirm that systems operate as intended, perform critical functions reliably and are authorized before being introduced into a live casino environment.
AGCO Says Safeguards Were Bypassed
The AGCO said using unapproved software in a live casino setting weakens safeguards designed to detect and prevent unlawful conduct, including money laundering. It also said such failures can undermine public confidence in Ontario’s regulated casino sector.
Casino operators are responsible for ensuring that changes to gaming systems are properly reviewed, tested and authorized before implementation. In this case, the regulator said Great Canadian Entertainment used unauthorized software at multiple sites, triggering monetary penalties totaling $120,000.
The penalty adds to recent AGCO enforcement activity in Ontario’s gaming market. The regulator also recently fined two gaming suppliers over unregulated websites, underscoring its focus on compliance across both land-based and online gambling operations.
Dr. Karin Schnarr, AGCO chief executive officer and registrar, said operators must protect the integrity of their gaming systems. “The AGCO requires casino operators to protect the integrity of their gaming systems by making sure they are independently tested, approved and operating as intended. When unauthorized software is used in a live casino environment, it bypasses critical safeguards that are meant to uphold the integrity of gaming and the public’s confidence in the system. The AGCO will continue to hold all casino operators accountable for meeting Ontario’s high standards of gaming system integrity”, she said.
Operator Can Appeal Penalty
The order does not necessarily end the matter. A casino operator served with an order of monetary penalty can appeal the registrar’s action within 15 days to the Licence Appeal Tribunal, which is part of Tribunals Ontario and independent of the AGCO.
The case highlights how casino technology failures can become regulatory issues even when they involve back-end systems rather than player-facing game content. For Ontario operators, the penalty reinforces that software changes must be approved before they are placed into live casino operations.
The next step is whether Great Canadian Entertainment appeals the penalty or accepts the order. The AGCO said it will continue holding casino operators accountable for meeting Ontario’s gaming system integrity standards.
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