Ontario's iGaming Ontario vs Rest of Canada: What Regulation Actually Changes for Players

Ontario’s iGaming Ontario: Canada’s Only Fully Regulated Competitive Online Casino Market

So, it’s necessary to know that Ontario is the only province in Canada with a completely regulated and competitive online casino market. From the moment it launched on 4 April 2022, the iGO [1] licensed 49 private operators that offered 84 online casinos. With this said, Ontario is the most competitive jurisdiction in North America.

Still, is online gambling legal in Canada, after all? If you don’t know yet the answer to this question, check CasinoAlpah’s guide and find out the legal level of gambling in Canada and each province.

What makes Ontario different from the rest of Canada

• Popular private operators are now fully licensed, such as Bet364, PokerStars, 888 Casino, Casino Rewards, etc.
• The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario enhanced the regulatory oversight
• Player protections tools are a must, such as self-exclusion, deposit limits, responsible gambling tools
• If casino won’t pay, you can complain at AGACO
• $261 million provincial revenue (2023-2024) funding healthcare, education, infrastructure [1]
• 86% channelization rate (86% of Ontario players use regulated sites) [1]

Rest of Canada: Many provinces do not have local licensing for private operators. Still, players can access offshore sites in a legal grey area status with no local regulatory protection.

For Ontario Customers: You can still access grey area casinos, but the local protection does not exist, and the dispute resolution process do not compare to the one in Ontario.

Disclaimer: As of January 2026, this article offers informative details about Ontario’s regulated iGaming market and compares it to other Canadian provinces. This isn’t legal counsel. Province-by-province variations in regulations are common. See AGCO or a qualified attorney for specific advice.

What Is iGaming Ontario? The Regulatory Framework Explained

In the following chapter we will teach you what iGO, or iGaming Ontario, is. Stay tuned and keep reading!

How Ontario’s Model Works

iGaming Ontario ori GO is a part of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), established July 6, 2021, with market launch on April 4, 2022 [1].

Structure:

• AGCO = Regulator (sets standards, offer licences and enforces obedience)
• iGaming Ontario = Market operator (conducts and manages online gambling and contracts with private operators like Bet365)
• Private operators = Licensed casinos/sportsbooks operating as agents of iGO

How it works:

• Private operators apply for a licence via AGCO in Canada
• AGCO will review the financial stability, integrity, game fairness and responsible gambling compliance
• If the operator is approved, then it will sign Operating Agreement with iGaming Ontario
• Operator launches gaming site(s) for Ontario players
• AGCO will start to monitor if the operator follow the rule; iGO manages market operations
• Operator pays 20% of gross gaming revenue to the province [2].

Key distinction: Be aware that Ontario separated the regulator (AGCO) from the market operator (iGO). This avoids a possible conflict of interest like we saw in Alberta, where AGLC both regulates AND operates PlayAlberta, which is a gap in the law.

Who’s Licensed in Ontario? (As of January 2026)

There are 49 operators that gave 84 gaming sites in Ontario online area [1], including the following:

Major International Brands:

• Bet365 (sports betting + casino)
• PokerStars (poker + casino)
• 888 Casino
• LeoVegas
• Casumo
• BetMGM
• FanDuel
• DraftKings
• theScore Bet

Casino Rewards Network:

• Jackpot City
• Spin Casino
• Ruby Fortune
• Royal Vegas
• Luxury Casino
• (12 Casino Rewards brands licensed)

Canadian Operators:

• NorthStar Bets
• Rivalry
• BetVictor

Full list: https://igamingontario.ca/en/player/regulated-igaming-market

Ontario vs Rest of Canada: Provincial Comparison Table

What Changes for Ontario Players: Regulated vs Offshore

Let’s see what changes for you as an Ontario resident.

Playing at iGaming Ontario Licensed Casino

What you get:

Provincial Protection via Regulation

• AGCO make sure that every operator comes with fair gaming, secure payments, responsible gambling tools
• Casino must follow AGCO Standards for Internet Gaming
• There are frequent regular audits of game fairness (RNG testing), financial stability, player fund protection

Local dispute resolution

• You can file a complaint with AGCO if the casino refuses to pay or if you have other issues.
• AGCO investigates and can force, via the law, the casino to pay, fine the operator, or revoke the licence.
• The resolution outcome will be faster compared to the grey area situation with the UKGC and MGA, since they’re not local.

Mandatory responsible gambling tools

• Deposit limits (daily, weekly, monthly)
• Loss limits
• Session time limits
• Reality checks every 60-90 minutes
• Self-assessment tools
• Links to Ontario problem gambling resources (ConnexOntario: 1-866-531-2600)

Self-exclusion integration

• You can Register with iGaming Ontario for self-exclusion system
• You will be blacked from all iGO-licensed sites
• Note: Does NOT block land-based casinos or offshore casinos

Guaranteed Interac e-Transfer acceptance

• All iGO-licensed casinos accept Interac
• No bank blocking issues because banks can’t block transactions to licensed operators

Faster withdrawals

• Local banking equals faster processing, so expect many fast withdrawal casinos soon
• No international wire transfer delays

Support Ontario economy

• 20% of gross gaming revenue goes to the Ontario government [2].
• They’ll fund the healthcare, education, infrastructure systems
• It creates jobs (15,000 full-time equivalent jobs in Ontario igaming industry) [1]

What you give up:

Smaller bonuses

• Regulatory costs such as 20% tax and compliance expenses, will reduce bonus budgets – see all about gambling taxes in Canada. 
• iGO-licensed casinos typically offer smaller welcome bonuses compared to offshore casinos

For a better understanding of the Canadian online casino bonuses types, read our newest guide.

Stricter bonus terms

• AGCO requires clear, fair bonus terms without hidden clauses or misleading terms
• But this also means less creative bonus structures
• Wagering requirements will be the same, with 35x wagering requirements being the Irish industry standard

Fewer game providers

• Some providers don’t license in Canada (Microgaming exclusive to Casino Rewards offshore)
• Smaller game collections

No cryptocurrency payments

• iGO-licensed casinos don’t lets you use your Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.
• But offshore casinos often accept crypto

Playing at Offshore Casino (From Ontario)

What you get:

Good bonuses

• Larger welcome bonuses with 200-400%
• Improved eload bonuses
• Quality VIP programmes with higher cashback, exclusive perks

Wider game selection

• Access to providers not in Ontario (Microgaming at Casino Rewards)
• Larger game libraries (2,000+ slots vs 500-1,000 at iGO sites)

You can use cryptocurrency

• Popular crypto such as BTC, ETH, LTC, or XRP are accepted at these offshore casinos
• Faster withdrawals via crypto (hours vs days)

Account history

• If you’ve played at offshore casino for years, VIP status and loyalty points remain
• You don’t want to start over at new iGO-licensed site

What you give up:

No provincial regulatory protection

• AGCO can’t help with disputes, so you must go to MGA, UKGC, etc
• The dispute resolution process is way slower

No local self-exclusion integration

• The self exclusion system in Ontario won’t help you to auto exclude from offshore casinos
• You must self-exclude at each casino individually

Potential bank blocking

• Some Canadian banks (TD, RBC) can or will block transactions to offshore casinos
• Must use Interac e-Transfer or alternative payment methods

No contribution to Ontario economy

• Revenue goes to offshore operators, not Ontario government

The Numbers: How Ontario’s Regulated Market Performs

Year 2 Results (2023-2024) [1]

What this means: 

• 86% of Ontario online players now use iGO-licensed sites (vs offshore) [1].
• C$261 million to Ontario government in Year 2 (up from C$230M Year 1) [1]
• 15,000 jobs created in Ontario iGaming industry [1]
• C$2.7 billion GDP contribution to Ontario economy [1]

Comparison: Before the regulation (pre-April 2022), 100% of Ontario’s online gambling profits went to offshore operators. Now 86% stays in the regulated market, which is a good thing.

Revenue Breakdown: Where the Money Goes

The Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) translates as the total bets minus total winnings paid out

Example:

• Players bet $100 million
• Casino pays out $95 million in winnings for players
• GGR = $5 million

From $2.2 billion GGR in 2023-2024: [1]

• 20% to Ontario government = $440 million (before expenses)
• Net to province after iGO operating costs = $261 million [1]
• Remaining 80% = Operator revenue (covers game costs, bonuses, operations, profit)

Where provincial revenue goes:

• For Healthcare
• For Education
• For Infrastructure
• For Public services

Player Protection: What’s Mandatory at iGaming Ontario Licensed Casinos

AGCO Standards for Internet Gaming

So, All of the iGO-licensed operators must follow these AGCO Standards [3], including:

1. Responsible Gambling Tools

Deposit Limits

• You must be able to set daily, weekly or monthly deposit limits
• Limits cannot be increased instantly, so you will wait 24-72 hours for a for cooling-off period
• Decreases take effect immediately

Loss Limits

• You will set the maximum loss per day/week/month
• You can tracks net losses which means deposits minus withdrawals

Session Time Limits

You will be able to set maximum continuous playtime.

You will be automatically logged out when the limit is reached

Reality Checks

• You will receive a pop-up notifications every 60-90 minutes showing the time you played and the money spent
• You must acknowledge to continue

Self-Assessment Tools

• Gambling problem tests
• Links to ConnexOntario; 1-866-531-2600 is the phone line
• Information about problematic gambling

Account History Access

• Complete downloadable transaction history
• Win/loss statements
• Reports on how much you gamble

1. Self-Exclusion Program

Casino-Level Self-Exclusion

• Every iGO-licensed casino must a self-exclusion feature
• You will be able to block yourself for 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, or a lifetime.
• Casino must follow your needs immediately

Future: Centralized Self-Exclusion (Coming 2025-2026)

• iGaming Ontario is implementinga centralisedd self-exclusionsystem [1].]
• One registration to block you from ALL iGO-licensed sites
• Similar to Alberta’s universal system, but it won’t include land-based casinos.

Current limitation: Ontario’s self-exclusion only covers iGO-licensed online sites. Does NOT block:

• Brick-and-mortar casinos
• Offshore casinos, since they’re not part of provincial system

1. Advertising Standards

Some practices to avoid problematic gambling in terms of marketing:

• All gambling ads must include warning on problematic gambling
• You’ll have the links to problem gambling resources

No Gambling Ads to Minors

• People under 19 cannot see gambling ads
• Harsh Age verifications

Bonus Terms Transparency

• Wagering requirements will be shown clearly
• No free money misleading claims

Operator RG Advertising Spend

• Operators must allocate portion of revenue to responsible gambling campaigns [1].]

1. Game Fairness & Security

RNG Certification

• Random Number Generator certifications
• Independent testing by eCOGRA, iTech Labs, GLI, etc

Player Fund Protection

• Your funds must be kept in other accounts
•  In case of bankruptcy, your money is safe anyway

Data Security

• SSL encryption is a must
• Compliance with PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act)

Anti-Money Laundering (AML)

• Operators must report suspicious transactions to FINTRAC
• iGO filed 52,000+ regulatory reports to FINTRAC in Year 2 [1]

Dispute Resolution: What Happens If Casino Won’t Pay

For iGaming Ontario Licensed Casinos

Step 1: Get in Touch with the Casino via Support

• Use Email, live chat, or phone
• Explain your problem in a detailed manner
• Request escalation managers if necessary
• Document all communication; screenshot everything

Step 2: File Complaint with AGCO

• If casino doesn’t resolve within 7-14 days
• Online complaint form: https://www.agco.ca/
• You must have the account details, transaction history and casino communication transcript
• AGCO will soon start to investigate if you have what they need

Step 3: AGCO can:

• Force the casino to pay you after the complaint
• They can easily fine the operator
• AGCO can and will suspend licence if casino violated the regulations
• They can revoke licence permanently, but this is very rare

For Offshore Casinos (No AGCO Protection)

If you play at unlicensed offshore casino from Ontario:

• AGCO cannot help you
• You must complain to casino’s licensing authority, such as MGA, UKGC, or Curaçao
• Can use eCOGRA alternative dispute resolution, but only if the casino has a relationship with eCOGRA
• The process is very slow because it can take 60 days

Lesson: iGO-licensed casinos offer faster, more reliable dispute resolution through AGCO.

Do Ontario Players Still Use Offshore Casinos?

Yes, from our internal database, we saw that over 14% of Canadians play only at offshore casinos.

IPSOS survey (March 2024): [1]

• 86% of Ontario online gamblers play at iGO-licensed sites
• 14% play exclusively at grey area casinos

Why players still use offshore:

• Better bonuses
• They already had active accounts
• Strong gaming collections
• They can use crypto
• Habit

Reality: Most Ontario players use both.

• Primary account: iGO-licensed casino (local protection, Interac, mainstream play)
• Secondary accounts: 1-2 offshore casinos for better bonuses, or specific games like Atlantean Treasure Mega Moolah

Criticisms of Ontario’s Model

1. Advertising Explosion

Concern: Gambling advertising increased in Ontario after iGO [4].

Evidence:

• TV ads during sports broadcasts
• Social media ads are everywhere
• Sponsorships
• Influencers started to advertise

Public health response:

• The Ban Ads for Gambling campaign was launched in Ontario
• The Advocates claim that advertising normalises gambling and increases addiction
• ConnexOntario, which is the problem gambling helpline, reports increased call volume since market launch [4].

AGCO response:

• Advertising standards are in place since they have warning on responsible gambling
• Monitoring operator compliance

2. Problem Gambling Increase

Because the access is easier and the advertising is aggressive, the claim is that problematic gambling has raised.

Evidence:

• Problem gambling helpline calls increased
• Addiction treatment centre reports increased, too
• Critics consider that regulation prioritised revenue (tax) over player protection, but this is not true at all. Let’s see the iGO response.

iGO response:

• 86% distribution means more players in a regulated environment with clear protections [1].
• Responsible gambling tools at all iGO casinos
• Centralized self-exclusion coming, meaning stronger protection
• Operators, such as Bet365 fund responsible gambling awareness campaigns

Debate: Is regulated gambling with protections better than unregulated offshore gambling? iGO argues yes; critics say expansion itself is harmful.

3. Smaller Bonuses

Many players complain about the fact that at iGO casinos the bonuses aren’t that attractive and generous. The players are always right, but here’s the situation. These bonuses look and feel weak because of regulatory costs (20% + compliance expenses), and these costs reduce bonus budgets. Check our complete list with the best casino bonuses in Canada for 2026 and see if the casino is offshore or Ontario based.

4. Centralized Self-Exclusion Gaps

Ontario’s self-exclusion only covers iGO-licensed online sites, so it won’t block you from land-based casinos or offshore sites. Alberta’s doing it better because their universal system blocks you from everything, such as online casinos, brick-and-mortar establishments, and even horse racing. Ontario’s approach is a half-baked approach that leaves gaps for problem gamblers. iGO says centralised self-exclusion for licensed sites is a first step, and they’re exploring integration with land casinos, but nothing’s confirmed yet.

Ontario vs Alberta: Which Model Is Better?

If you’re not yet aware of the Alberta’s online gambling legal status and you want a complete overview, don’t hesitate to read our helpfu legal guide made by the experts.

Winner: Ontario for regulatory independence and no conflict of interest). Alberta for universal self-exclusion due to stronger player protection.

Should You Play at iGaming Ontario Licensed Casinos or Offshore?

Let’s look at this comparison table between offshore and Ontario-licensed casino. Based on our table, you will know exactly where to play.

The Future: Will Other Provinces Follow Ontario’s Model?

Alberta: Launching Competitive Licensing in 2026

Alberta is also emulating the same model adopted by the province of Ontario but creating its own competitive model for licensing operators. The iGaming Alberta Act was passed in June 2025, and operators have been submitting their applications from January 2026, with the market launch expected for Q2-Q3 2026, making Alberta the second province in Canada to license online casino operators, apart from its own provincial site, PlayAlberta.

British Columbia: Likely to Regulate by 2027-2028

BC is under pressure to follow suit like Ontario. PlayNow is losing revenue due to the move to offshore casinos, while the province is observing how much revenue is being earned in Ontario, which is $261 million annually. With a similar population base, BC could earn $100 million or more from online gambling. At CasinoAlpha Canada, we predict that BC will offer competitive licensing in 2028 because the financial incentive is too big to pass up.

Quebec: Uncertain Timeline Due to Monopoly Resistance

The situation in Quebec is less clear. Loto-Québec runs Espacejeux as a monopoly and has been against opening the market to private companies. Although Espacejeux is losing market share to offshore casinos, the current government is in favor of preserving the monopoly. Although pressure on revenue may force the government to reconsider, we do not see any developments until 2028-2030, if at all.

Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Atlantic Provinces: Waiting and Watching

Likewise, smaller provinces are unlikely to develop their own regulatory systems in the short term. With smaller populations, the revenue model is not significant enough to warrant investment in infrastructure like what has been done in Ontario and Alberta. These smaller provinces are likely to observe the success of Alberta’s market before making any moves to develop their own systems. We do not see any action from these smaller provinces until 2028 or later.

Sources

• [1] iGaming Ontario, Annual Report 2023-2024, Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario https://igamingontario.ca/en/annual-report-2023-2024
• [2] iGaming Ontario, Operating Agreement Terms (20% revenue share standard) https://igamingontario.ca/
• [3] AGCO, Standards for Internet Gaming https://www.agco.ca/
• [4] CBC News, How Ontario’s online gambling industry is faring 3 years into legalization, January 2025 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-online-gambling-three-years-1.7489203