Ontario (iGaming Ontario)

Ontario became the first Canadian jurisdiction to open a competitive market for online gambling involving private operators under government control. The nodal date is April 4, 2022, when the province launched the iGaming mode with an operator "contract" input through iGaming Ontario (iGO), a subsidiary of the AGCO (Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario) regulator. The model relies on Canada's constitutional formula: the province "conducts and manages" the Internet game through a public authority (iGO), and private companies registered with AGCO conduct product and marketing activities under an agreement with iGO.

How the conduct & manage model works

Two key steps for the operator: (1) register with AGCO (compliance with standards, personal fitness, technical integrity); (2) enter into an operating agreement with iGO, according to which iGO legally "leads and controls" the game, and the operator provides the platform and content. This clearly divides the regulatory (AGCO) and commercial (iGO) roles of the state.

Prior to the launch of the OLG market. ca remained the only provincially regulated site; after 04. 04. 2022 private operators gained access to the market through iGO.

Advertising and marketing rules: strict restrictions

From the very start, Ontario introduced strict advertising standards, especially in terms of incentives for the game: public advertising of "inductions" (bonuses/credits) is prohibited, with the exception of posting on the operators' own websites (and in their channels after the player's explicit consent). For violations, AGCO fined large operators already in 2022. In 2023, the regulator also banned the use of athletes (active and former) in iGaming advertising to reduce the impact on minors. These requirements are enshrined in Registrar's Standards for Internet Gaming.

Responsible play and defense tools

AGCO and iGO require operators to have a set of mandatory RG practices: limits, prominent risk warnings, age verification, KYC/AML, and access to assistance services. Additionally, the province has a single My PlayBreak (OLG) self-exclusion program for terrestrial and online segments, synchronized with the province's channels.

Market Size: Third Year Results

• Casino wagers: about $69.6 billion (+ 34% YoY), casino GGR - $2.4 billion (+ 36% YoY).
• Betting wagers: $11.4 billion (+ 17% YoY), betting GGR - $724 million (+ 23% YoY).
• Industry reports indicate a ~ of $3.2 billion GGR for 2024/25, which emphasizes the maturity of the market. In the fourth quarter of 2024/25, a record for handle was set - $22.9 billion.

What it means for players and operators

For players: more choice of licensed sites, uniform standards of RNG honesty and responsible play, strict filtering of marketing (there is no aggressive "external" bonus advertising), understandable self-control and help tools.

For operators and suppliers: entry requires a double match - Registrar's Standards (AGCO) + contractual model with iGO; mandatory control of advertising materials, audit of payment/anti-fraud processes, data protection and integration of RG mechanics. It is legally important to understand that iGO "conducts and manages" iGaming, provided through private operators, is the fundamental architecture of the Ontarian market.

Timeline of key milestones

Jan. 28, 2022 - Announcement of the launch of Ontario's competitive iGaming market.

Apr. 4, 2022 - official start; operators registered with AGCO with iGO agreements received the right to work.

July 2022 - AGCO's first fines for publicly advertising bonuses (DraftKings example).

Sept. 2023 - Ban on athletes in iGaming ads.

2024/25 is the third year of the market: robust GGR and handle growth by quarter.

Ontario, through iGaming Ontario, has built a Canadian reference for the competitive iGaming market: the state legally "plays" the game, and the business provides the product and innovation under the close supervision of AGCO and the iGO contractual framework. Tough advertising policies and a focus on responsible play are combined with rapid market growth - by fiscal 2024/25, the province was entrenched among the largest regulated iGaming jurisdictions in North America.