Great Canadian Entertainment received a $170,000 fine from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario on July 8, 2026, for anti-money laundering compliance failures. The penalty follows a $120,000 sanction issued to the operator on June 30 for deploying unauthorized gaming software.
AML Compliance Violations
The regulator determined that the operator failed to properly identify, assess, and monitor high-risk patrons at Pickering Casino Resort. Suspicious transaction reports were not submitted in multiple instances where customer activity displayed potential money laundering indicators. These practices breached sections 6.1 and 6.3 of the AGCO Standards for Gaming.Dr. Karin Schnarr, CEO and registrar at the AGCO, stated, "The AGCO requires casino operators to take a proactive approach to identifying and reporting suspicious activity." She noted that unmonitored high-risk behavior weakens safeguards protecting the integrity of Ontario’s gaming sector and confirmed the commission will continue enforcing responsible operation standards.
The regulatory actions occur as Great Canadian Entertainment proceeds with the sale of several casino assets. The properties are being transferred to a partnership between Petroglyph Development Group and Musqueam Capital, which now operates as the largest Indigenous-owned casino group in Canada by revenue.