Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto has been fined $120,000 by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) following an investigation into a cheating scheme involving casino dealers and patrons. The case revealed collusion and manipulation of electronic craps games, leading to criminal charges against five individuals, including dealers and players. The AGCO’s compliance review found significant regulatory breaches, including inadequate supervision and failure to act on internal warnings, prompting ongoing oversight to ensure gaming integrity at the recently opened casino.
Details of the Cheating Scheme
Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto, formerly known as Casino Woodbine, was fined $120,000 by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) following an investigation into a cheating scheme involving two dealers and multiple patrons. The scheme centered on electronic craps tables, where dealers manipulated dice rolls and colluded with players to gain unfair advantages.
Specifically, dealers were found to have:
- Illegally pushed dice to players before bets were settled.
- Worked in concert with patrons to alter game outcomes.
Investigation and Regulatory Action
The Ontario Provincial Police Investigation and Enforcement Bureau charged five individuals, including at least one dealer and four patrons, with 19 criminal offenses such as criminal breach of trust, cheating, theft, and fraud. In parallel, AGCO’s compliance review uncovered significant operational failures at the casino, including inadequate supervision of table games and ignoring internal warnings about unusual losses.
Despite repeated procedural warnings against implicated dealers, the casino allowed them to continue working during the investigation period.
Regulatory Standards and Casino Response
AGCO emphasized that all Ontario casinos must implement effective controls to prevent cheating and collusion. The commission noted that the Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto’s failure to act on known violations compromised the integrity of gaming operations. AGCO will maintain ongoing oversight to ensure improvements and prevent future misconduct.
Casino Background
Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto is among Canada’s largest casinos, featuring 145 table games and over 4,800 slot machines and electronic tables. The casino recently opened after a five-year construction project costing approximately $1 billion.
Summary of Key Points
- Nature of Scheme: Dealer collusion and cheating on electronic craps tables.
- Individuals Charged: Five (one dealer and four patrons).
- Charges Filed: Breach of trust, cheating, theft, and fraud.
- Regulatory Failures: Ignored warnings, poor supervision, failure to prevent fraud.
- Penalty: $120,000 fine imposed by AGCO.
- Ongoing Monitoring: AGCO will oversee improvements and compliance.
Conclusion
AGCO’s sanction against Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto highlights the critical need for stringent regulatory oversight and effective internal controls to uphold fairness and integrity in casino gaming operations.
Conclusion
The fine imposed on Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario underscores the importance of robust supervisory measures and adherence to regulatory standards within the casino industry. The casino’s failure to address internal warnings and prevent dealer-patron collusion compromised the integrity of its gaming operations. Moving forward, the AGCO’s continued oversight aims to ensure that corrective actions are implemented and sustained, safeguarding fair play and public trust in Ontario’s gaming establishments.