BetMGM Canada fined $110K for allegedly offering cash to new customers

CBC News

· Posted: Mar 26, 2025 3:32 PM EDT | Last Updated: 9 minutes ago

Ontario's gaming watchdog has issued a $110,000 good to online sports betting level BetMGM Canada aft the institution allegedly offered currency to caller customers who acceptable up an relationship connected the platform.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario said successful a quality merchandise connected Wednesday that the activities occurred successful nationalist forums, specified arsenic a large nationalist commercialized conference.

In January 2024, representatives from the institution attended a large nationalist commercialized conference, identified by officials arsenic the National Franchise Show, and offered $100 successful currency to caller players who opened an relationship and deposited $15, says the AGCO. 

The AGCO says that connected March 11 of the aforesaid year, BetMGM Canada's selling affiliate, Above the Street, engaged successful "prohibited inducement marketing," which resulted successful 377 subordinate sign-ups and $127,180 successful commissions.

Then, connected April 13, 2024, the AGCO says different BetMGM selling affiliate, Maple Leaf Marketing, engaged successful "prohibited inducements and marketing" to induce on-site activations, which resulted successful 94 subordinate sign-ups and astir $34,000 successful commissions.

Canada made single-event sports betting ineligible successful 2021, but Ontario was the archetypal to determination up with a regulated sports betting programme — allowing aggregate operators to supply legal, online sports gambling services.

However, registered iGaming platforms in Ontario are prohibited from offering gambling inducements, bonuses, and credits arsenic portion of their "broad nationalist advertizing and selling activities," says the AGCO.

"These Standards beryllium to support Ontarians from predatory advertizing and promotional selling practices successful bid to bounds the hazard of gambling-related harm," said the AGCO.

CBC Toronto has reached retired to BetMGM Canada for comment.