Have you been trying to understand how Ontario's iGaming system works and its rules? Click here to see Ontario's IGaming Structure and its requirements.
The province of Ontario is the most populated area in Canada. It is also home to many online gaming operators that the provincial government licenses. It means that players from across Canada can enjoy games on these sites. The charge is given to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), which oversees casinos, lotteries, charitable gaming, and other forms of gambling to regulate these activities.
However, in April 2022, the Ontario government set up a new agency called iGaming Ontario (iGO) as a subsidiary of the AGCO that will oversee the licensing and regulation of online gaming and gambling in the province. Several jurisdictions worldwide have made similar moves to regulate and permit iGaming operators within their borders. In many cases, they have been motivated by a desire to capture tax revenue from these firms' operations and/or protect players from rogue operators who may not be able or willing to comply with local laws or regulations. Let’s see how these regulations affect online casinos like https://icecasino.com/.
In Ontario's case, there are two main reasons for setting up iGO. One is that it allows the government to capture tax revenue from online gambling companies operating within its jurisdiction (iGaming operators registered with iGO are taxed 20% of their earnings). The other is that it allows them to protect players by ensuring that only reputable operators are licensed under its rules.
The creation of iGaming Ontario comes as part of an effort by the government to modernize its gaming industry and provide Ontarians with more choice in online gaming experiences within a secure and regulated framework. This is especially important considering that online gaming has become increasingly popular in recent years and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
The iGaming Ontario structure is based on the Lottery and Gaming Corporation of Ontario (LGC) model. The LGC is responsible for licensing and regulating all gaming products in Ontario, including lottery, bingo, and social gaming. On the other hand, iGaming Ontario will oversee all commercial aspects of internet gaming in Ontario, including licensing, regulation, and enforcement.
This new system is intended to streamline the licensing process, which will make it easier for internet gaming companies to operate within the province. The AGCO has stated that they aim to make this process easy to attract more companies and boost Ontario's economy.
As part of its mandate, iGaming Ontario has created several requirements to ensure that operators in the province are reputable and meet their obligations. These are as follows:
Operators must prove they have a responsible gambling program, including online gamblers.
Operators must ensure that all players are aware of the risks associated with gaming in their advertising and marketing campaigns.
All operators must have the ability for players to self-exclude from gaming sites in Ontario.
Internet gaming operators must also share anonymized player data with iGaming Ontario to protect consumers from problem gambling and conduct research.
In addition to these requirements, players must also be at least 19 years old or older to register an account, log on or play at an online gaming site. The iGaming Ontario framework requires operators to perform ongoing identity verification measures for all players to ensure this.
The new structure and requirements for the iGaming market in Ontario are designed to ensure a safe, transparent, and competitive environment. To protect public members, the iGaming Ontario logo is intended to let players know that they are dealing with a site that the government has approved Ontario.
To enforce safety, iGaming Ontario uses a combination of self-reporting from licensed operators and complaints from members of the public to identify violations. Where required, the agency conducts independent investigations into these issues as well.
If a licensee is non-compliant, it takes appropriate action against it, including issuing fines, suspending or revoking licenses or taking other administrative measures against licensees who violate this requirement or any other requirements under the iGaming regulation as determined by the Government of Ontario.
The new iGaming framework in Ontario is an exciting prospect for players in Ontario. It will give them more options and a more comprehensive range of safe and secure games. Previously, the OLG (Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation) casino, poker and sports betting offerings were the only available options. With the introduction of iGaming Ontario, players will be able to choose from a more comprehensive array of gaming options than ever before.
Moreover, with the new iGaming structure, the provincial government has finally repealed its long-standing prohibition on single-event sports betting after several failed attempts to change the law. Single-event sports betting will be available online and mobile and at brick-and-mortar locations.
Before now, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has been the sole regulator responsible for overseeing all aspects of this industry, focusing on protecting players, promoting fair play, enforcing rules and regulations, and ensuring the integrity of games.