The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) penalized Booming Games after discovering that its auto-play feature remained available on several online slots.
On August 20th 2026, the Ontario Regulator ordered game provider Booming Games to pay C$70,000 after revealing that some of its slots had the forbidden auto-play option.
The AGCO is one of the North American regulatory bodies with the strictest requirements for operators and game developers. It’s highly dedicated to regulating the provincial market and protecting players.
Booming Games had the right to request a hearing within 15 days after the fine was issued, but it remains unknown whether it did so.
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AGCO Rules on the Auto-play Feature
To protect players, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has strict rules in place. One is a short pause between rounds, during which a player can rethink their decision and choose whether to play again.
The idea behind this protective measure is to give players enough space to act with peace of mind, without being rushed or having decisions made for them. This also lets players assess the current game and reduce the risk of gambling harm in the long run.
However, with the auto-play option, a user sets their stake and the number of automatic rounds they want played, after which the game starts spinning reels on its own. During automatic spins, it’s not possible to take a break, which is why AGCO explicitly prohibited this feature.
This isn’t the only restriction by this commission, as it also demands that all slot games with sounds and lucrative animations during losing rounds be disabled. The reason is that they can be misleading to players, making them think the round ended with small winnings or any other size, when in reality that’s untrue.
The C$70,000 Fine
While not every Booming Games slot had the auto-play option, some did, which AGCO discovered during its own compliance review. This suggests a mistake, a slippage, because Booming Games was clearly aware of this ban since it started offering its services in the Ontario market in 2024. Otherwise, the audit would have identified all its online slots in Canada for this region with the built-in auto-play option.
“Ontario’s game design standards are fundamental player-protection measures built into the regulated igaming market – they are not optional technical requirements. 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,” said Dr. Karin Schnarr, CEO and Registrar of AGCO.
After the configuration issue was revealed, AGCO notified the provider, and the feature was disabled in all games that contained it.
The Registrar also imposed a monetary penalty of C$70,000 on Booming Games (Malta) Limited for breaching the Gaming Control Act of 1992.
Specifically, the violations intersected with Requirement 2 of Standard 2.16, which states that the Supplier offered slot games with auto-play features. Requirement 3 of Standard 4.09 also states that the Supplier failed to streamline monitoring and testing while the gaming system and gaming supplies were in use, resulting in these not operating as approved.
Conclusion
While it’s still unknown if Booming Games appealed this decision, this event serves as a reminder that players should be protected without exception. Strict compliance may put pressure on licensed Ontario casinos and providers, but it helps maintain a well-regulated environment.
Regulations are something to adhere to. And though they can be strict, they are the main barrier between grey and unregulated markets, unfair games, non-transparent terms, and players.
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