Ontario regulator fines Betty Gaming $120K for underage gambling access
Age verification system flaws allowed minors to create accounts and gamble online.
1Reason for penalty
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) fined Betty Gaming Ltd. C$120,000 for weaknesses in its age verification and player eligibility systems on the Betty.ca platform. A vulnerability identified in November 2025 allowed nine minors under 19 to open accounts, deposit money, and gamble, while 14 others created accounts without depositing funds.
2Legal requirements
Ontario's gaming rules mandate operators to implement reliable safeguards preventing underage access and verifying player eligibility before account creation. These protections aim to keep youth away from gambling while maintaining trust in the province's regulated online gaming market. AGCO emphasizes operators' responsibility to ensure system functionality prior to launch.
3Violated standards
AGCO alleges Betty Gaming breached the Registrar's Standards for Gaming, which prohibit minors from creating accounts, logging in, or gambling online. The standards require operators to collect, complete, and validate player information pre-registration. Systems must undergo proper testing before customer deployment to prevent underage exposure.
4Regulator's statement
AGCO CEO Dr. Karin Schnarr stated: "The legal age requirement is among Ontario's most fundamental gaming safeguards. Operators must prevent minors from account creation, deposits, or online gambling. When responsibilities aren't met, we act to protect youth and market integrity." The penalty reflects AGCO's commitment to enforcement in regulated sectors.
5Appeal process
Betty Gaming may challenge the Order of Monetary Penalty within 15 days by appealing to the Licence Appeal Tribunal—an independent adjudicative body under Tribunals Ontario. This follows standard regulatory procedures allowing operators due process while maintaining AGCO's authority to impose penalties for compliance failures.
6AGCO's enforcement actions
AGCO has intensified oversight, recently revoking lottery registrations linked to unauthorized Prime Slot machines in Greater Toronto. Over 200 inspections at bars, restaurants, and retailers led to removing 50+ machines accessible to minors. These efforts demonstrate AGCO's multi-pronged approach to preventing underage gambling across physical and digital channels.
7Other compliance penalties
AGCO previously fined Well Played Media C$54,000 ($38,500) for promotional content allegedly encouraging high-risk gambling without clear terms disclosure. Ontario generally sets minimum gambling age at 19 (18 for lottery tickets). Such penalties underscore AGCO's focus on responsible gambling practices and transparent operator conduct in regulated markets.
8Regulatory framework
AGCO oversees Ontario's alcohol, cannabis, gaming, and horse racing sectors through a risk-based framework prioritizing compliance, integrity, and public safety. The Betty Gaming penalty aligns with broader efforts to maintain market confidence by holding operators accountable for system failures that could expose vulnerable groups to gambling harms.