Well Played Media, which works with Rhino Entertainment on its Casino Days operator brand in Ontario, Canada, has been handed a CA$54,000 penalty over a “deceptive” promotion.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) said its analysis showed the average player would first lose $3,640 trying to earn the $2,000 bonus.
A player who triggered the investigation complained that they had more than $8,500 in winnings confiscated by Casino Days.
To qualify for the up to $2,000 welcome bonus, the AGCO said players had to deposit $2,000 of their own funds, wager $70,000 – 35 times the deposit – and ensure each wager was $5 or under.
Players also had to complete all wagering requirements within seven days, the AGCO said.
The regulatory body said certain aspects of the bonus offer were “difficult to find” and “buried behind multiple links” on the website.
The AGCO said the penalty was administered because the offer is “alleged to have encouraged high-risk behaviour and failed to properly disclose key terms.”
Dr. Karin Schnarr, chief executive officer and registrar at the AGCO, said: “Player protection is a non-negotiable priority for the AGCO. We expect operators to be truthful and transparent about their promotions, and we also require them to ensure that those promotions do not encourage reckless or harmful patterns of play.
“An offer that requires a player to sustain substantial losses for a perceived benefit is not a fair offer.
“This penalty sends a clear signal that we will not hesitate to take action against operators who fail to meet their obligations to protect Ontario players.”
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