iGaming Ontario (iGO)

iGaming Ontario (iGO) is a relatively new online gaming market, established in 2021 in collaboration with the Government of Ontario and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).

iGO officially launched on April 4th, 2022, with the primary goal of regulating all gambling websites operated by private entities. Its role includes providing protection and support for players, ensuring operators comply with high standards for game integrity, promoting responsible gambling, and preventing money laundering.

Note: Ontario was the first province in Canada to introduce a legal online gambling market. Prior to its launch, there was only one regulated iGaming website operated by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), and many players turned to offshore casinos. The introduction of iGO provides players with safer, local alternatives for online gambling.

iGaming Operations

iGaming Ontario (iGO) is responsible for managing and overseeing iGaming operations provided by private operators in Ontario. It operates as a subsidiary of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), which serves as the regulatory authority for the iGaming market. Together, these entities work to enforce the legal standards outlined in the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming, in alignment with the Gaming Control Act (1992).

Some of the primary duties of iGaming Ontario include:

Executing operating agreements with private iGaming operators, once they are registered by the AGCO, and ensuring compliance with contract obligations within Ontario’s regulated iGaming framework.
Overseeing the reconciliation of iGaming revenues on behalf of the province.
Providing market insights and assisting operators in integrating into the new regulated market.
Enforcing responsible gambling measures for operators.
Developing and managing iGaming Ontario’s anti-money laundering program and policies.
Establishing a dispute resolution process to address customer concerns.

With a regulated market in place, players can now enjoy gambling with confidence, assured that their winnings will be paid out, the games are fair, and the casinos are operated by legitimate businesses.

There are also stringent controls to prevent fraud and the funding of terrorism. Every player must undergo an I.D. verification process when creating an account at a casino, and they will be reminded annually to update their information.

Dispute Resolution Process

iGaming Ontario is committed to ensuring that players have access to a dispute resolution process. According to iGO’s website, they are unable to directly resolve bets, refund wagers, or provide compensation. However, players are encouraged to follow the operator’s complaint procedure and submit any valid concerns to the respective operator.

If the issue remains unresolved with the operator, the complaint can be escalated to iGO for further review. Additionally, iGO offers a free online tool to guide players on the best course of action and how to submit a complaint to iGO.

How to Verify

All online gambling websites authorized to operate in Ontario are required to display the iGaming Ontario logo on their site. Alternatively, you can verify if a casino is offered by a legal, regulated operator by checking the iGaming site directory.

Here, you can find a form that lets you search the registry for a specific website. Additionally, a comprehensive list of all currently regulated websites is available. This list is regularly updated whenever a new site from an authorized operator is approved.

Responsible Gambling

A key responsibility of iGaming Ontario (iGO) is to ensure that operators provide players with easy access to responsible gambling tools, resources, and information. For example, at the point of registration, every operator must allow players to set limits on their deposits and losses. Additionally, operators are expected to:

Achieve and maintain accreditation from the Responsible Gambling Council
Run campaigns focused on problem gambling prevention and responsible gambling
Participate in a future centralized program to allow players to exclude themselves from all regulated iGaming websites in Ontario
Share anonymized player data to support research into responsible gambling

These requirements supplement the responsible gambling standards set by Ontario’s regulator, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), and are part of iGO’s ongoing effort to enhance player protections.

Moreover, there are specific guidelines for operators on implementing a self-exclusion procedure. Since it is currently not possible for players to exclude themselves from all iGO casinos at once (this feature is being developed), each operator must offer its own self-exclusion program.