iGaming Ontario and the AGCO

Ontario runs a regulated, competitive online market: operators register with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and contract with iGaming Ontario. It is a market licence, valid for people physically in Ontario.

Official register: iGaming Ontario operator directory

What this licence promises

What the licence is

In Ontario the AGCO's Registrar registers operators and sets the Standards under the Gaming Control Act, 1992. iGaming Ontario contracts with the registered operators.

The wording behind this

“Under the Gaming Control Act, 1992 (GCA) the Registrar is authorized to establish risk-based standards to regulate Ontario's gaming sector.” (AGCO)

“all igaming sites offered by regulated Operators contracted by iGaming Ontario” (iGaming Ontario)

How to check a licence

iGaming Ontario publishes a directory of every igaming site offered by a regulated operator. Regulated sites display the iGaming Ontario and BetGuard logos.

The wording behind this

“Use this directory to see all igaming sites offered by regulated Operators contracted by iGaming Ontario” (iGaming Ontario)

“will have iGaming Ontario and BetGuard logos displayed” (iGaming Ontario)

Where it applies

The regulated market is Ontario. Players can open or access an account elsewhere, but cannot place wagers on a regulated account while not physically in Ontario.

The wording behind this

“players cannot place wagers on any of those accounts while not physically located in Ontario” (iGaming Ontario)

Identity checks

The Standards require registration data (name, date of birth, address and the information the federal Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act requires) to be validated before an account is created, minimum age 19 (18 only to buy a lottery ticket), and an anti-money-laundering programme aligned with that Act.

The wording behind this

“shall be demonstrated to be complete, accurate and validated before a player account is created for the player” (AGCO)

“An individual under 19 years of age except where the individual is at least 18 years of age and is accessing the gaming site solely for the purpose of purchasing a lottery ticket” (AGCO)

“Anti-money laundering policies and procedures to support obligations under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA) shall be implemented and enforced” (AGCO)

Player protection

Operators must offer deposit and/or loss limits (including 24-hour, 7-day and one-month periods) from registration. iGaming Ontario runs a Centralized Self-Exclusion Program, and signing up to BetGuard opts a player out of all regulated igaming sites in Ontario.

The wording behind this

“Players shall be provided with the option to set loss and deposit limits during registration.” (AGCO)

“The period or duration of the financial or time-based limits offered must include, 24 hours, 7 days and one month.” (AGCO)

“If you decide to sign up for BetGuard, you are opting out of all regulated igaming websites in Ontario.” (iGaming Ontario)

If you have a complaint

Players complain to the operator first. If the operator does not answer within 90 days or the answer is unsatisfactory, the dispute can go to iGaming Ontario, and then to the Ombudsman of Ontario.

The wording behind this

“the Operator did not respond in a timely manner (within 90 days of being made aware of a player dispute), or” (iGaming Ontario)

“this process does not affect your right to raise your concerns with the Ombudsman of Ontario” (iGaming Ontario)

Your money

The Standards only require player funds to be "clearly and appropriately managed". The text we checked does not state segregation or insolvency protection for funds held by an operator.

The wording behind this

“Player funds shall be clearly and appropriately managed.” (AGCO)

What it does not tell you

• The directory we opened was marked accurate as of 1 September 2026 and listed 49 operators across 84 sites. bet365, Betway and Pinnacle appear in it; William Hill, Betfair and Stake do not.

History of the regulator

1. 28 January 2022Launch date announced

   iGaming Ontario announced that the new online gaming market would launch on 4 April 2022, with private operators registered with the AGCO and under an operating agreement with iGO able to offer games from that date.

   Source: iGaming Ontario
2. 4 April 2022Regulated market opens

   The Ontario government opened a competitive, regulated iGaming market. Before launch it estimated that about 70% of online gambling in the province took place on unregulated sites.

   Source: AGCO and iGaming Ontario (Ipsos report)
3. 3 April 2024Channelization report

   A report by Ipsos for the AGCO and iGaming Ontario found that 86.4% of Ontarians who gambled online in the past three months had wagered on a regulated site, against 85.3% in the previous year's study. The 2024 survey ran from 29 January to 15 February and included 1,299 recent online gamblers.

   Source: AGCO and iGaming Ontario (Ipsos report)
4. 14 May 2026Standards updated

   The AGCO's Registrar's Standards for Internet Gaming, the rulebook operators must follow, carry a last-updated date of 14 May 2026.

   Source: AGCO
5. 1 September 2026Operator directory

   The directory listed 49 operators and 84 sites as of 1 September 2026.

   Source: iGaming Ontario

Sportsbooks here that hold it

• bet365
• Betway