Ontario Regulator Penalizes theScore Bet After Cash‑Out Offers Proved Unachievable
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has issued a $200,000 monetary penalty against Score Media and Gaming Inc., operator of theScore Bet, after determining the sportsbook failed to meet Ontario’s strict player‑protection requirements by presenting cash‑out offers that could not be honored.
The enforcement action stems from a March 14, 2025 multi‑leg parlay wager — a $1,000 bet spanning NHL, NBA, and NCAA basketball games with a potential payout exceeding $1 million. After all but one leg had won, theScore Bet displayed a $380,000 cash‑out offer, which the player accepted immediately. The offer was then rejected during automated verification when odds shifted.
Four minutes later, theScore Bet presented a second cash‑out option worth nearly $100,000. The player again accepted instantly — and again the offer was not honored. The parlay ultimately lost, and the player received no payout.
AGCO’s Registrar found that neither cash‑out offer was ever achievable, meaning theScore Bet presented outcomes and features that could not be delivered. The violation falls under Standard 4.07 of the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming, which prohibits misleading information about achievable prizes, outcomes, or game features.
Integrity of Ontario’s iGaming Market at Stake
AGCO emphasized that maintaining public confidence in the honesty and reliability of regulated gaming sites is foundational to Ontario’s iGaming framework. The province’s regulated market is designed to offer safer alternatives to offshore gambling sites, which lack responsible‑gaming safeguards, consumer protections, and regulatory oversight.
AGCO’s enforcement actions target operator conduct that violates provincial standards. These regulatory measures are separate from any avenues players may pursue to resolve individual disputes. Operators remain responsible for handling complaints and disputes in accordance with Ontario and Canadian law.
Right to Appeal
TheScore Bet has the right to request a hearing before the License Appeal Tribunal (LAT) within 15 days. LAT is an independent adjudicative body within Tribunals Ontario and is not affiliated with the AGCO.
The penalty underscores AGCO’s ongoing commitment to enforcing Ontario’s iGaming standards — and its willingness to act when operators fail to uphold the protections required in the province’s regulated market.
