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Casino Woodbine, based in Ontario, recently faced penalties due to non-compliance with casino operations rules. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) held them responsible for not having proper controls to prevent criminal activities like cheating.
The Gaming Laws Violation
Casino Woodbine was found to have violated seven procedural rules. The casino had allowed a dealer to continue to operate electronic craps despite not following correct procedure. The dealer had been pushing dice to gamblers before the bets were closed, which is against gaming laws.
The laws in Ontario require casinos to have sound controls in place. These controls help to reduce the risk of illegal activities. This includes both cheating by patrons and dishonest acts by the casino staff. AGCO said Casino Woodbine failed to follow these rules.
In response to the violations, the casino was handed penalties. However, along with enforcing these penalties, AGCO also emphasized its commitment to ensure future compliance. Its officials will continue to monitor Casino Woodbine to ensure appropriate changes are made to the controls. This is to prevent any future incidents of cheating or staff collusion.
Casino Woodbine’s Cooperation and Way Forward
Despite the penalties, Casino Woodbine responded positively to the AGCO’s review. They cooperated fully and pledged to rectify the identified deficiencies. They also have the option to challenge the ruling if they wish.
There are also some changes at the top of AGCO. Karin Schnarr is the newly appointed chief executive and registrar. She is set to take up her role on 18 September. She will replace Tom Mungham, who confirmed his departure from AGCO earlier this year.
Mungham had been with AGCO since 2006. He started as director of licensing in registration before becoming the chief operating officer. He assumed the CEO role in 2020. During his time as CEO, Mungham saw through several important initiatives. This included the development and regulatory oversight of Ontario’s new online gambling market, which started in April the previous year.
Schnarr is a seasoned lawyer and has been working at AGCO for more than 15 years. She was previously the Deputy Registrar of Alcohol, Gaming & Racing. In her new role, Schnarr will be responsible for ensuring compliance with regulations and protecting consumers in Ontario’s casino industry.
