The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has issued a CAD$70,000 financial penalty to Fallsview Casino Resort in Niagara Falls for anti-money laundering violations.
In April last year, a customer attended the Salon Privé at the Fallsview Casino Resort and presented $80,000 in strapped $100 bills from a reusable grocery bag.
Surveillance showed that once the money was counted and confirmed, the customer left the table with casino chips without playing at that time. Despite having previously identified the player as ‘high risk,’ the casino failed to notify the AGCO and on-site police of this transaction as required.
The casino operator also failed to take any meaningful steps to ascertain and corroborate the customer’s source of funds, as is required by anti-money laundering rules set out in the Registrar’s Standards for Gaming.
“The AGCO is committed to protecting the public interest and public safety and remains vigilant in its efforts to guard against potential money laundering at Ontario’s gaming sites,” said AGCO CEO and registrar Karin Schnarr. “Casino operators are important front-line partners in this effort and the AGCO holds all operators to rigorous standards when it comes to the prevention of unlawful activity.”
In accordance with AGCO board guidelines, Fallsview Casino has been served an Order of Monetary Penalty totalling $70,000 for the alleged infractions.
The operator has the right to appeal the Registrar’s action to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), an adjudicative tribunal independent of the AGCO and part of Tribunals Ontario.
Fallsview Casino is operated by Mohegan and governed by Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG).
In related news, the AGCO has appointed Brent McCurdy as the agency’s new chief legal officer.
McCurdy has been a key member of AGCO’s leadership for over a decade and most recently served as deputy chief operating officer and deputy registrar.
Previously he served as director of policy and director of corporate affairs at the AGCO. He has also held a number of senior roles in government, including chief of staff to the Ministers of Municipal Affairs and Natural Resources.