Ontario’s AGCO Fines Arrise, Relax Gaming Over Unregulated Casino Websites
The AGCO fined Arrise Solutions (which powers Pragmatic Play) and Relax Gaming after it found their casino games were available to Ontario players on unregulated websites.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has issued CA$40,000 monetary penalties against Arrise Solutions Limited and Relax Gaming Limited after an investigation found their games were available on unregulated gambling websites accessible to Ontario players.
The regulator announced that the two companies, which hold AGCO licenses, violated Ontario’s rules prohibiting licensees from offering games to unlicensed operators in the province.
In a press release, AGCO CEO and Registrar Dr. Karin Schnarr said:
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.”
The AGCO said that both companies cooperated fully with the investigation. They took “prompt action” to restrict Ontario player access on the unregulated websites.
Both Companies Have Sweeps Casino Ties
Arrise powers Pragmatic Play, a major global supplier of online casino games, including slots and live dealer games.
Despite its global presence, Pragmatic Play does not currently operate in the regulated U.S. iGaming market. Previously, the company was among the most widely distributed suppliers across U.S. sweepstakes casino platforms.
However, it withdrew from the market last year amid mounting legal and legislative pressure on the sector.
Meanwhile, Relax Gaming remains widely available on sweepstakes casino platforms. It also supplies games to several major regulated operators across North America, including DraftKings and BetMGM.
Gambling Insider tested access to Relax Gaming titles on the sweepstakes casino platform McLuck using both U.S. and Ontario-based VPN connections following the AGCO announcement. Relax Gaming titles were accessible through the U.S. connection but unavailable through the Ontario connection.
Growing Scrutiny on Gaming Suppliers
The AGCO action arrives amid increasing regulatory scrutiny across North America of suppliers linked to unregulated gambling, such as sweepstakes casinos.
In spring 2025, Connecticut regulators suspended High 5 Games’ supplier license after alleging the company operated the sweepstakes platform High 5 Casino within the state. The company paid a settlement of approximately $1.5 million and withdrew the platform, leading the state to reinstate its license.
Similar supplier scrutiny has also emerged in other U.S. enforcement actions. In August 2025, the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office filed a civil enforcement action against Stake.us, naming suppliers Evolution and Hacksaw Gaming as defendants. The lawsuit was one of the reasons for Pragmatic Play’s U.S. exit.
Evolution blocked its games from the platform. During the company’s Q3 earnings call, CEO Martin Carlesund said that if a regulator or authority were to intervene, Evolution would not contest the interpretation.
Additionally, lawmakers in multiple states have enacted sweepstakes bans, some of which target the entire ecosystem, including suppliers.
AGCO Continues Active Enforcement Push
The Ontario regulator has maintained an active enforcement posture throughout 2026 across both operators and suppliers.
In February, the AGCO moved to suspend PointsBet’s license for five days over compliance failures tied to the Jontay Porter betting scandal.
In January, the regulator fined FanDuel Canada CA$350,000 for failing to report irregular betting activity tied to table tennis markets.
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