One of the biggest and most successful casinos in Canada, the Great Canadian Casino Resort in Toronto, has recently been fined $350,000 after it reportedly allowed a DJ to host an after-party on their gambling floor. The party was deemed unruly by law enforcers, and first responders were called in to deal with numerous alleged assaults, reports of public indecency and medical emergencies due to drug overdoses.

Gambling in Canada is an intensely popular pastime, and the evolution of online casino gaming options has only added to this growing popularity. US live dealer casinos have made gambling significantly more accessible to all players, offering a wide range of games, including classics like poker and blackjack and new additions such as digital slots and crash games.

The fine was issued to the casino by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (the AGCO) for what they named “multiple” violations of the province’s gambling rules. It is the duty of the AGCO to enforce these rules in order to ensure the safety of gamblers across Ontario.

The electronic dance concert and afterparty that caused these issues took place on September 27, 2024, and the AGCO have made extensive reports and statements regarding it. They stated that emergency services needed to deal with “widespread intoxication, disorderly behaviour, and numerous criminal and medical incidents.” It has also been reported that these various crimes took place within the casino and outside the venue.

The disorder was so severe that the police who had been hired for the event needed to call in backup, alongside various ambulance crews to deal with ongoing medical emergencies. Disorderly behaviour was taking place during the concert, but despite this, the casino still allowed the DJ and 400 others to attend an after-party on the casino floor.

With so many intoxicated people in such a small space, security personnel were unable to effectively maintain control within the casino during the party. Witness reports have even suggested that one party-goer climbed onto the slot machines, which could have caused property damage.

The casino appears to have taken the punishment well, with a spokesperson stating that they accept the fine and take ‘full responsibility for this incident.’ They also noted that they respected AGCO’s decision and its role in “setting and enforcing standards that guide the gaming industry in Ontario.” Since the incident, the casino states that they have implemented multiple safeguards to ensure something of the same nature does not happen again. They also maintained that the entire organization is committed to offering gambling services at the highest standards of compliance and accountability, and that the recent events have not changed that.