AGCO Hits Great Canadian Entertainment With $120K Fine Over Casino Software Breach

Great Canadian Entertainment has been fined $120,000 by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) after investigators discovered unauthorized gaming software running at four of its casino sites.

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The regulator said the breach involved bill validator software that had either been revoked or not approved, yet was still installed across 40 machines between February and March 2025. 

“Gaming equipment and systems are central to casino operations. They process payments and wagers, support slot-game play, and help maintain controls that protect the integrity, safety and security of the gaming environment,” the regulator stated.

“When these systems are used or operated without required testing, monitoring and approval, it weakens safeguards designed to detect and prevent unlawful conduct, including money laundering, and can undermine public confidence in Ontario’s regulated casino sector.”

GCE has 15 days to appeal

The review found 40 separate cases where unapproved bill validator software had been deployed. These devices are meant to confirm the authenticity and value of cash inserted into machines, making them a key safeguard against fraud and money laundering. 

AGCO’s standards require all gaming equipment and software to undergo rigorous testing before being introduced to casinos, but Great Canadian Entertainment failed to meet this requirement.

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The regulator described the use of unauthorized software as a serious compliance failure. Without proper approval, the systems could not be relied upon to perform their functions consistently or securely. 

The fine was issued as an Order of Monetary Penalty, giving the operator the right to appeal within 15 days to the Licence Appeal Tribunal, an independent body under Tribunals Ontario. 

In its statement, AGCO’s Chief Executive Officer and Registrar, Dr. Karin Schnarr, said: “The AGCO requires casino operators to protect the integrity of their gaming systems by making sure they are independently tested, approved and operating as intended.”

“When unauthorized software is used in a live casino environment, it bypasses critical safeguards that are meant to uphold the integrity of gaming and the public’s confidence in the system. The AGCO will continue to hold all casino operators accountable for meeting Ontario’s high standards of gaming system integrity.”

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