The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has officially imposed financial penalties on two major iGaming content suppliers, Relax Gaming Ltd. and Arrise Solutions Ltd., after an investigation revealed their products were accessible to Ontario players via unregulated, illegal gambling platforms.
Each company has been issued a fine of CAD $40,000, highlighting the regulator’s uncompromising stance on market channelization.
Holding Registered Suppliers Accountable
Both Relax Gaming, a Malta-based aggregator established in 2011, and Arrise Solutions are officially registered with the AGCO to supply slot and casino-style content to the province’s regulated market.
However, the discovery of their games on unlicensed sites triggered a rigorous policing effort. Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of the AGCO, emphasized the danger these unlicensed sites pose to the public:
“Ontario’s regulated iGaming market is built on clear rules designed to protect players and hold companies accountable. Unregulated gaming sites operate outside that framework, meaning players have no assurance of fair games, timely withdrawals, or access to meaningful dispute resolution. When regulated games appear on unregulated sites, it risks enabling a market that exposes players to real harm.”
A Maturing Market with Stricter Oversight
The AGCO noted that both suppliers cooperated fully with the investigation and took “prompt action” to terminate access for Ontario players on the offending unregulated platforms. Despite Ontario’s high channelization rate of approximately 83%, the presence of illegal sites remains a priority for the government.
At the most recent Canadian Gaming Summit, Ontario Attorney General Doug Downey and AGCO Chair Dave Forestell signaled a new era of aggressive enforcement. Downey stated during the event:
“The market’s matured enough now that people have had an opportunity [to get licensed], and if they’re not going to go through the door, it’s time that they stop playing in our market.”
The penalties serve as a warning to all B2B providers that supplying content to the “unregulated space” will result in direct regulatory consequences, regardless of a firm’s cooperative status post-violation.
