TORONTO, Oct. 6, 2026 /CNW/ -- The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has issued a $200,000 monetary penalty against Score Media and Gaming Inc., operator of theScore.Bet, for failing to meet Ontario's strict player protection standards by presenting cash-out offers that were not honoured.
The enforcement action relates to a $1,000 bet placed on March 14, 2025. The bet was a multi-leg parlay, meaning the player had to correctly predict the outcomes of multiple NHL, NBA and NCAA basketball games all taking place that day. If every selection was correct, the potential payout was more than $1 million.
After all but one of the legs were successful, theScore presented the player with a cash-out offer of approximately $380,000. The player accepted the offer immediately, however theScore rejected the transaction during automated verification after the odds changed.
Four minutes later, theScore presented the player with a second cash-out offer of almost $100,000. The player again accepted immediately, but this offer also was not honoured. The bet ultimately settled as a loss, and the player received no payout.
The Registrar found that neither cash-out offer was achievable as presented to the player. The enforcement action relates to Standard 4.07 of the Registrar's Standards for Internet Gaming, which requires that information provided to players before and during gameplay does not mislead players or misrepresent games, including by describing outcomes, prizes or features that are not achievable.
Ensuring that players can have confidence in the honesty and integrity of igaming sites is fundamental to Ontario's regulated igaming market. This robust regulatory framework offers Ontarians a safer alternative to unregulated gambling sites that lack comparable safeguards.
AGCO's enforcement actions address operator conduct that violates Ontario's igaming standards. Regulatory action by the AGCO is separate from any other avenues available to players to seek resolution of individual disputes. Operators remain responsible for addressing player complaints and disputes in accordance with Ontario and Canadian law.
An operator served with an Order of Monetary Penalty has the right to request a hearing before the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT) within 15 days. LAT is an adjudicative body that is part of Tribunals Ontario and independent of the AGCO.
Quote
"Operators have a responsibility to ensure that the gaming opportunities they present are accurate and can be honoured as described. As the regulator, the AGCO is committed to holding operators accountable when they fail to uphold commitments made to players or otherwise mislead them about gaming opportunities. By imposing the maximum monetary penalty available, we are sending a clear message that these expectations are not optional."
-- Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar, AGCO
Additional Information
Contrary to section 3.8 of the Gaming Control Act, 1992 (GCA), theScore is alleged to have failed to comply with the following provisions of the Standards:
4.07 Information provided to players prior to and during game play shall not mislead players or misrepresent games.
Requirements – At a minimum, information shall not:
- Describe any outcomes, prizes, or features that are not achievable.
About the AGCO
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is a provincial regulatory agency that oversees the alcohol, cannabis, gaming and horse racing sectors in Ontario. The AGCO is committed to protecting the public interest through a modern, risk-based regulatory framework that emphasizes compliance, integrity and public safety.
SOURCE Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario
Media contact: AGCO Media Relations, [email protected]
Share this article