theScore gets $105,000 fine for allegedly failing to step in after patron loses $230,000

Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario Investigation and Enforcement Bureau at the Shorelines Casino Thousand Islands in Gananoque, Ont. on Friday, July 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg (Lars Hagberg)

Ontario’s gaming watchdog has slapped Toronto-based sports entertainment and betting company theScore with a $105,000 fine after it allegedly allowed a patron to engage in “high-risk” gambling that saw them bet $2.5 million and lose $230,000 over eight months.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) announced the fine in a news release issued Tuesday, which detailed the alleged findings of its regulatory review of the company.

The AGCO said that the unnamed patron of theScore lost approximately $100,000 in the first month of play, underscoring what it called “frequent, high-stakes play” and “escalating losses that clearly indicated potential gambling-related harm.”

“The patron repeatedly requested bonuses, displayed loss-chasing behaviour, and showed signs of distress to the operator’s VIP host—all missed opportunities for theScore to appropriately intervene and reduce the potential for high-risk play,” the AGCO said.

However, despite what the AGCO described as “clear red flags” and “inaccurate income documentation,” the operator relied on the patron’s “self-assessments” and failed to conduct meaningful responsible gambling due diligence or interventions.

“Player protections are a fundamental requirement for any gambling operator looking to conduct business in Ontario. When operators fail to uphold these critical safer gambling standards, they not only betray the trust of their players but also undermine the integrity of Ontario’s regulated iGaming market,” AGCO CEO and registrar Karin Schnarr said in an accompanying statement.

CTV News Toronto reached out to theScore’s parent company, Penn Entertainment, for comment but has not received a response.

theScore began as a cable TV network in the 1990s before branching out into sports betting in 2019.