Booming Games (Malta) Limited has been hit with a $70,000 penalty by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario after prohibited auto-play features were found active across multiple slot titles available to Ontario players.
The banned functionality had been operating for months before the regulator’s compliance team identified the breach through proactive checks.
Auto-play allows slot reels to spin continuously without a player manually initiating each round, a feature Ontario prohibits because it eliminates the natural pause between wagers.
The AGCO’s design standards are built around that pause, as regulators believe it helps players remain aware of their activity and spending during gambling sessions.
By requiring each spin to be started individually, Ontario’s framework aims to slow the pace of play and reduce the risks associated with prolonged, uninterrupted gambling sessions.
Following the AGCO’s intervention, the affected operator was notified and auto-play was subsequently disabled across all impacted games.
AGCO Chief Executive Officer and Registrar Dr. Karin Schnarr issued a firm statement on the matter, making clear that compliance with game design standards is non-negotiable for registered suppliers operating in the province.
“Ontario’s game design standards are fundamental player-protection measures built into the regulated igaming market – they are not optional technical requirements,” Dr. Schnarr stated.
“Registered suppliers must have effective controls in place to prevent prohibited features from reaching Ontario players. When those safeguards are not respected, the AGCO will take regulatory action.”
The AGCO confirmed that as a registered supplier, Booming Games is obligated under the Gaming Control Act to configure, test, and monitor its products to ensure full compliance with Ontario’s technical standards.
The financial penalty reflects violations of two specific standards: Standard 2.16, which explicitly prohibits auto-play functionality, and Standard 4.09, which mandates continuous monitoring and testing of gaming products.
Booming Games has 15 days to request a hearing before the Licence Appeal Tribunal, an independent body that reviews disputes arising from regulatory decisions made by the AGCO.
The case signals a broader commitment by Ontario’s gaming regulator to actively enforce player-protection measures rather than wait for operators or suppliers to self-report compliance failures.
