Gambling Regulations in Ontario

??? Regulated Ontario Gambling Market

Ontario is currently the only province in Canada with a regulated gambling market, and since April 2022, numerous casinos have launched dedicated Ontario casino pages. Ontarian gamers can access sites that pay taxes and follow strict regulations, including fair play and responsible gambling. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario regulates and oversees all forms of gambling in the province, including online casinos.

?? What is the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario is a regulatory agency responsible for regulating the alcohol, gaming, and horse racing industries in Ontario, Canada. The AGCO’s mandate is to ensure that these industries are conducted socially responsibly per provincial laws and regulations. The commission also works closely with law enforcement agencies to prevent and investigate illegal activities in these industries.

If you have concerns or questions about the regulations, you can contact the AGCO office. Below are their contact details.

?? Common Licensing-Related Phrases

The world of the licensed gambling market can seem confusing at first, especially when we’re all using specific words and phrases to describe how it all works. So, I’ve collected below some of the most commonly used terms that pop up when you read about online casinos in Ontario.

?? Two Year Anniversary of iGaming Ontario

Ontario’s regulated online gaming industry will turn two years old in April 2024! Since the market became regulated in 2022 almost 70+ licensed casinos have met the high standards of the AGCO and can legally accept players from Ontario.

According to an Ipsos survey conducted last year, over 85% of Ontario online gamblers have played on regulated platforms. This is a significant change, as around 70% of players were estimated to play on unregulated casinos before Ontario moved to license-based online gambling. The survey results show Ontario has successfully adopted a licensed market, and players are happy with the switch. However, around 19% of the players who play in regulated casinos also gamble in unregulated ones. It seems some brands can answer a demand that authorized sites fail to. In addition, 15% of players play solely on unpoliced sites. So, this begs the question: what will it take to make these players switch?

As the regulated iGaming market celebrates its second anniversary, we anticipate what’s next. For example, will AGCO maintain the same online gaming restrictions for 2024, or will they try new ways to convert Ontario gamblers to licensed casinos? Which will be the next province to adopt similar rules and regulations to safeguard players in the rest of Canada.

? How Successful is the Ontario iGaming Market?

iGaming Ontario reports that the new iGaming market in Ontario has brought high-paying jobs and a strong economic benefit to the province. The local market has been described internationally as a safe, legal, and competitive market that supports the economy. Recent studies also showcase how the licensed gambling model benefits all Ontarians, whether they play or not.

In addition, iGaming job positions in Ontario have been found to compensate 41% more in a year than the average jobs in the province. The employment base comprises professionals from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, generally considered high-skilled professions. In addition to individuals, government revenue has increased as well. And it’s estimated that in 2031-32, it will grow just under $1.4 billion. The regulated iGaming industry of Ontario has positively supported residents and the government.

? The Future of Gambling in Ontario

With the Ontario online casino market opening to competition, numerous new Ontario casino brands have emerged. However, in competitive markets, we typically witness a process of attrition whereby the market focuses on the top brands. This trend is evident in the US web market, where approximately 90% of bets are placed at only five online casinos.

Despite the intention of preventing Ontario gamblers from being exploited, Ontario’s gambling regulations presently prohibit local casinos from marketing their promotions through any platform other than their own websites. Unfortunately, this restriction has some negative consequences. One of the goals of regulating online casinos is to safeguard players, which means that individuals who are gaming at offshore or grey market casinos must be drawn towards regulated markets.

The advertising restrictions impede the ability of legal casinos to attract players, resulting in many individuals mistakenly believing that they are playing at a safe casino when they are, in fact, playing on an unlicensed website. The extent of future regulation will largely direct the future of legal Ontario casinos.

Furthermore, technological advancements will have a significant impact. We should anticipate much more immersive experiences as online casinos seek to replicate the atmosphere and ambiance of a live casino. Conversely, other casino games will likely diverge from being simply online adaptations of live casino games and instead evolve in a distinct direction to capitalize on improved casino technology. It will be fascinating to observe the developments that follow.

? Latest News in the Ontario Gambling Industry

Last year was a busy year for iGaming Ontario. We’ve had new exclusive games released, like Playtech’s live dealer games; new regulations approved, like banning celebrities from gambling ads; and a bunch of new Ontario online casino site platforms launched.

Here you can read the most recent updates for Ontario Casinos in 2024:

February 29th, 2024
New advertising standards have come in to effect that prevent online casinos and sportsbooks from using celebrities in promotional activity. This means we will no longer see well-loved athletes, actors or other famous figures encouraging us to play on a certain platform. This is one of a number of measures put in place by the Alcohol and Gambling Commission of Ontario to protect minors and other vulnerable people from gambling-related harm.

February 14th, 2024
The AGCO has granted a gaming license to Booming Games, an up-and-coming game developer that is already popular other regulated markets in the UK, Spain, The Netherlands, Denmark and Colombia. I am really looking forward to playing some of their high-quality games that every-one is talking about like Cash Pig, Buffalo Hold and Win, and TNT Bonanza, but personally I am really holding my breath for Monster Truck Madness that is full of random and bursting wilds, elimination rounds and free spin features.

February 9th, 2024
This weekend our southern neighbours have football fever as the build up to the Superbowl, and the end of the NFL season, approaches on Sunday. If you are interested on having a flutter on the big game then check out our guide to the Best Legal Ontario Sports Betting Sites.

February 1st, 2024
Raw iGaming has entered into a partnership with BetMGM in Ontario to bring online casino players new gamimg experiences. BetMGM Casino Ontario already has a library of over 3600 games including exclusive progressive jackpots, but soon we will be able to enjoy even more exciting slots with Raw iGaming’s new mechanics. Clusterspins introduces a hedge bet concept, their Rush games lets you fast track to the extra round with “less wait, more of the great”, and Raw VIBE (Virtual Intelligent Behaviour Engine) promises to bring more complex narratives to the titles.

January 26th, 2024
The Niagara Falls’ Fallsview Casino and Resort in Ontario was fined by the AGCO for failing to follow anti-money laundering rules. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario regulates all gambling in our province, and ensures that online casinos are safe to play at, that the games are provably fair, and that they are socially responsible.

January 16th, 2024
2024 is the year of new game providers in Ontario! Hacksaw, a slot and instant win game developer, has recently acquired the AGCO license and will start offering its games on local gambling sites, like Caesars Palace Online Casino. Next, the company plans to expand to other gambling jurisdictions in Canada.

January 12th, 2024
The game provider, Octoplay, is now available in Ontario online casinos! As the company acquired the AGCO license to promote their slot games, ON players get to play Pearly Shores, Lolicat, Bullet Bonanza, Wilfred’s Wheel, and other exclusive games. Ontario has one of the strictest gambling regulations, so acquiring a game license is a massive accomplishment.

January 5th, 2024
The MGM Group has announced a massive NHL partnership and an expansion plan in Canada. BetMGM products and branding will be visible in NHL games and events during the coming seasons. In addition, the company has promised to invest more in responsible gambling tools. The GameSense program, used in MGM Resorts, will be integrated into mobile and desktop platforms.

January 4th, 2024
In Manitoba, the casino workers have finally reached an agreement, avoiding a strike. The new deal allows a salary increase from 16% to 40%, and union members will receive bonuses ranging from $600-$1,800. In other news, the province has been considering expanding its iGaming reach. The local First Nation representatives have reacted positively to the plans to expand gambling in Manitoba. The plans are still in the early phase, so we’re sure to hear more in the coming months.

January 3rd, 2024
Pointsbet Canada has recently struck a deal with Strive Gaming to bring new games to the market. Their site will provide and host brand new casino games and features in Ontario and other provinces. Infinity Engine, the Strive Gaming proprietary tool, allows PointBet to tailor games to players in real time. Stay on the lookout for new games and tools in the Spring of 2024 in Pointsbet Ontario.