Online gambling operators could regard a developing class action in Toronto, Canada as a wake-up call when it comes to enforcing responsible gambling provisions. The class action is against land casinos, but the implications for online operators are clear.

Thousands of problem gamblers in the Canadian city have launched a $3.5 billion class action lawsuit, saying they were allowed into land casinos operated by the Ontario provincial government despite signing up for a program that should have denied them entry.

Legal representative Jerome Morris told CBC News the suit is designed to help addicted gamblers who have lost large sums of money. It claims OLG has not done enough to enforce its ban on those who have registered for it. Ontario has settled nine individual self-exclusion cases but never a class action suit.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reports that the suit was filed earlier this week in Toronto, claiming the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. did not fully enforce a "self exclusion" program that allows problem gamblers to ban themselves from casinos.

Those who sign up for the program are photographed and their personal information is on file at all of the province’s casinos.

According to the CBC, gamblers who had signed up for the program said it was not working, including one who returned frequently for years after signing up for a self exclusion.