The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has fined Penn Entertainment’s subsidiary, theScore, for alleged failures in protecting problem gamblers.
On Oct. 7, 2025, the online gambling regulator announced a 105,000 Canadian dollars monetary penalty against Score Media and Gaming Inc.
The regulator said the operator allowed one player to bet C$2.5 million over eight months, resulting in a loss of about C$230,000. Approximately C$100,000 of the losses came in the first month.
The betting activity displayed “escalating losses that clearly indicated potential gambling-related harm,” the AGCO said. The regulator did not specify the online gambling form.
The player “repeatedly requested bonuses” to continue gambling and “showed signs of distress” in communications with the operator’s VIP host, the AGCO said.
In the online gambling industry, companies employ so-called hosts to develop and nurture a one-on-one relationship with what they deem to be “high-value” players. Studies have shown that the online gambling industry relies on a small number of its customers – known within the industry as “whales” – for the majority of revenue.
Red Flags Missed or Ignored
People with gambling addiction are often, at some stage of the addiction, in denial that there is a problem. Shame and stigma surrounding problem gambling can contribute to this denial.
theScore allegedly allowed the player in this case to self-assess whether they had an issue. After that assessment, there was an indication that the player had a gambling problem.
“Despite clear red flags and inaccurate income documentation, the operator relied on the patron’s self-assessments and failed to conduct meaningful responsible gambling due diligence or interventions,” the AGCO said in an official statement.
The regulator did not say how long it took to conduct its “regulatory review.” It also did not provide the dates of the alleged problem gambling in the case.
Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar at the AGCO, said violations of this nature “undermine the integrity” of the province’s regulated betting sector.
theScore, based in Toronto, is part of Pennsylvania-based Penn Entertainment. In 2023, the casino operator acquired a license for the ESPN brand for its U.S.-facing ESPN Bet sportsbook.
Ontario Player Protection Regulations
The AGCO said theScore had breached numerous provisions of the Gaming Control Act.
The law requires that online gambling operators have “procedures to identify, prevent, and minimize risks” of gambling harm. The internal policies must be “reviewed and evaluated regularly for effectiveness.”
Moreover, a gambling platform must have a system to “monitor player risk profiles.”
The law also requires that online gambling operator staff “understand the importance of responsible gambling” as an essential part of their jobs.
The Ontario online gambling regulations are similar to proposed rule changes in New Jersey.
theScore Fine: The Bigger Picture
Ontario’s online gambling fine of theScore comes as Canadians appear to be more concerned about the social impacts of the industry.
An August 2025 survey from Leger Marketing found that half of Canadians don’t think media companies should have partnerships with betting brands.
theScore began as a Canadian cable TV network in 1997 before pivoting to online gambling.
Shifting public sentiment has been reflected in proposed policies. In Ottawa, pending legislation (Bill S-211) would implement nationwide advertising restrictions on the Canadian online gambling sector.
Across the border in the U.S., Americans have also soured on legalized betting.
It’s worth noting that a day after theScore regulatory fine, regulators with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission sanctioned Penn’s ESPN Bet for advertising gambling as “investing.”
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