Toronto casino fined $120,000 for not detecting alleged cheating

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The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has issued a $120,000 fine against Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto for failing to to detect an alleged cheat-at-play and dealer collusion scheme.

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In March 2024, the OPP’s Investigation and Enforcement Bureau (IEB), embedded within the AGCO, laid charges against five individuals following allegations that two table games dealers were in collusion with a group of casino patrons.

The AGCO conducted a subsequent compliance review and allege the dealers had engaged in a cheat scheme on multiple occasions with the same group of patrons, leading to nearly $20,000 in illicit winnings in less than one week.

The scheme involved the alleged execution of various dealer cheat moves that included intentionally exposing cards that were supposed to remain face down while dealing, inappropriately overdrawing the dealer’s cards, and issuing overpayments on winning hands.

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The AGCO review also found Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto’s surveillance and supervisory pit staff failed to detect the cheat scheme and casino staff failed to follow proper table games audit procedures, which are intended to ensure rules of play are followed by dealers and patrons.

This is the second recent incident involving allegations of a cheat-at-play and dealer collusion at Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto, which is located at 555 Rexdale Blvd.

A casino operator served with a fine by the AGCO Registrar has the right to appeal the decision to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), which is an adjudicative tribunal independent of the AGCO and part of Tribunals Ontario.

“Ontario’s registered casino operators have an obligation to ensure the integrity of game play in their casinos,” AGCO CEO and Registrar Dr. Karin Schnarr said in a statement.

“This includes a responsibility to detect and prevent collusion and cheating. The AGCO will continue to monitor and take all necessary steps to uphold the integrity of gaming in Ontario’s gaming sites.”

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