AGCO fines Arrise, Relax Gaming CA$40,000

On May 8, 2026, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario issued CA$40,000 in monetary penalties to Arrise Solutions Limited and Relax Gaming Limited after an investigation found their casino games were accessible to Ontario players on unregulated websites.

The AGCO determined both licensed suppliers breached provincial rules that bar licensees from making games available to unlicensed operators in Ontario. The regulator noted both companies cooperated with the investigation and took prompt steps to restrict Ontario player access on the unregulated sites.

In a statement, AGCO CEO and Registrar Dr. Karin Schnarr warned that “Ontario’s regulated iGaming market is built on clear rules designed to protect players and hold companies accountable. Unregulated gaming sites operate outside that framework, meaning players have no assurance of fair games, timely withdrawals, or access to meaningful dispute resolution. When regulated games appear on unregulated sites, it risks enabling a market that exposes players to real harm.”

Arrise Solutions supplies content to Pragmatic Play, a global provider of online casino titles. Pragmatic Play does not operate in the regulated U.S. iGaming market and withdrew from U.S. sweepstakes-style platforms in 2025. Relax Gaming remains available on sweepstakes platforms while also supplying games to several regulated North American operators, including DraftKings and BetMGM.

Access tests carried out after the AGCO announcement found Relax Gaming titles reachable via a U.S.-based connection but not accessible when tested from Ontario. Both companies restricted access for Ontario-based players following the regulator’s inquiry.

Regulatory scrutiny of suppliers linked to unregulated sweepstakes operations has increased across North America. In 2025 Connecticut suspended a supplier license after alleging the company operated a sweepstakes platform in the state; the company paid a settlement of about $1.5 million and withdrew the platform. A civil enforcement action in Los Angeles in 2025 named suppliers tied to an unregulated platform. Several U.S. states have enacted bans on sweepstakes-style operations, with some measures addressing suppliers as well as operators.

The AGCO has continued active enforcement in 2026. In February the regulator moved to suspend PointsBet’s licence for five days over compliance failures tied to the Jontay Porter betting incident. In January the AGCO fined FanDuel Canada CA$350,000 for failing to report irregular betting activity in table tennis markets. The regulator described the recent penalties as consistent with efforts to protect players and ensure licensees follow Ontario’s regulatory framework.