On Monday, 4 April 2022, the Ontario government formally launched its new online gambling market.
Ontario Is Officially a Regulated Gambling Market
With this new regulation, the residents of Ontario will be able to wager on casino games, sporting events, and other forms of gambling through online websites and smartphone apps run by companies licensed to operate in the provincially regulated market.
Operators are optimistic about the debut of iGaming Ontario (IGO), a subsidiary of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), as it will be the first jurisdiction in Canada to accept bets in a regulated private online gaming market.
Gradual Onboarding of Operators
As of Friday, iGaming Ontario had registered twenty-five operators.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, which regulates the industry, said that not all sites will go live immediately and that the number of operators will increase. Prior to the debut, those that wish to place bets have increased their advertising efforts to target potential customers.
Providers are taking Ontario by storm, too. At this time, Microgaming, High5Games, Light & Wonder as well as White Hat Gaming have established their presence in Ontario.
Responsible Gambling Concerns
In an effort to mitigate the negative effects of gaming, the Ontario Alcohol and Gaming Commission has established harm-reduction guidelines for operators, including the requirement that facilities have a system in place to monitor players for "harm."
Operators must also display "responsible gambling messages," as well as self-exclusion alternatives and access to 24-hour help resources. There are also restrictions prohibiting ads that are directed at kids or that are misleading.
Land-based Casino Concerns
Despite some fears that legalizing online gambling in Ontario might harm land-based casinos, the iGaming framework is expected to complement rather than detract from land-based gaming activity.
The iGaming framework is expected to complement rather than detract from land-based gaming activity.
It will do so by giving land-based gaming operators new ways to diversify their services and cross-promote across online and offline locations.
Online Gambling in Ontario
Gambling in Canada and Ontario is not a new concept. However, it’s been nearly entirely focused on organizations based outside of the province.
Previously, there were no regulations in place for people outside sites. Private operators, on the other hand, will now be required to register and pay taxes in exchange for legal access to the province.
According to the province, in addition to generating a new revenue stream, the market will protect Ontarians by giving a legal alternative to the existing "grey market" of online gambling alternatives.
A statement released by the province's attorney general's office says the new measures will enable more responsible gaming, prevent underage access, and ensure compliance with applicable laws including anti-money laundering rules and regulations.
