Booming Games Fined in Ontario for Prohibited Auto-Play Feature

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has taken firm regulatory action against Malta-based iGaming supplier Booming Games. The provider was ordered to pay a CA$70,000 penalty following an investigation that revealed prohibited auto-play functionality on multiple slot games. The feature, which allows continuous spins without player interaction, had been available to Ontario residents for several months, directly violating the province's stringent game design standards.

According to the regulator, Booming Games failed to properly configure, test, and monitor its titles both before and after their launch in the regulated market. The AGCO's proactive compliance efforts identified the issue, leading to the immediate notification of the affected operator and the subsequent disabling of the auto-play function. This enforcement highlights the non-negotiable nature of Ontario's player protection measures, which are among the strictest in North America.

Numbers and facts

The CA$70,000 fine (approximately US$50,947) was issued under the Gaming Control Act of 1992. The breach specifically involved Requirement 2 of Standard 2.16, which prohibits auto-play, and Requirement 3 of Standard 4.09, which mandates ongoing monitoring of gaming systems. The Ontario market has seen significant growth, with a Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) of CA$3.20 billion reported between April 2024 and March 2025, representing a 32 percent increase. Currently, 84 percent of local gamblers use regulated sites.

"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." - Dr. Karin Schnarr, CEO and Registrar of the AGCO

Booming Games now has a 15-day window to request a hearing before the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), an independent body within Tribunals Ontario. If no appeal is filed, the monetary penalty will stand as a final order.

Background

Ontario's decision to ban auto-play in 2021 was a deliberate move to curb gambling-related harm. By removing the need for a player to manually initiate each wager, auto-play can lead to a trance-like state where the player loses track of time and expenditure. The AGCO maintains that requiring a manual start for every spin creates a necessary pause, allowing players to assess their gameplay and decide whether to continue. This focus on player awareness is a cornerstone of the province's regulatory philosophy.

Why it matters for German players

For players in Germany, this news resonates strongly because the German Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021) employs very similar, if not stricter, restrictions. Auto-play is completely banned for all virtual slot machines under GGL jurisdiction. German regulations go even further by mandating a 5-second pause between spins, ensuring that rapid-fire wagering is technically impossible. This global trend toward slowing down the pace of play reflects a shift in regulatory focus toward long-term player sustainability over short-term revenue.

Additionally, German players are subject to a cross-operator deposit limit of 1,000 Euro per month, monitored via the LUGAS system. The stake per spin is also capped at 1 Euro. These measures are designed to prevent excessive losses. Any supplier or operator failing to adhere to these technical specifications faces severe penalties from the Joint Gambling Authority of the States (GGL), including the potential loss of their German license.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

Licensed operators in Germany must ensure that their software providers deliver compliant versions of their games. The incident in Ontario serves as a warning that even established suppliers can make configuration errors. German casinos must verify that features like auto-play or 'Bonus Buys' are entirely removed from the German versions of their titles. Failure to do so could result in the GGL taking similar enforcement actions as the AGCO. Maintaining the integrity of the GGL whitelist requires constant vigilance and robust testing of all integrated gaming content.