Regulated Ontario Casinos - AGCO Licensed Casinos

Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission (OLG) Overview

Who Can Play at Online Casinos in Ontario?

Individuals included in the Ontario Regulation 78/12 of the Gambling Control Act, 1992, will not be allowed to play in online casinos. 

These include anyone under 19 years of age, except when the individual is at least 18 and is accessing the site only to buy a lottery ticket. Players who registered for a self-exclusion scheme will also not be eligible to play in any online casino.

Moreover, the following categories of people will also be prohibited from playing to ensure fair play. 

• Individuals with access to non-public information that could impact the outcome of an event or bet type. 
• Athletes, coaches, managers, owners, or referees that could directly influence the outcome of a sporting event.

Responsible Gambling

Responsible gambling is a main priority for AGCO, which is why they’ve partnered with some of the following organizations to provide a safe gambling environment. 

• Responsible Gambling Council. Individual help for avoiding or battling gambling addiction.
• OLG’s PlaySmart. Here you’ll find several tools for keeping gambling a healthy hobby.
• Connex Ontario. They offer information and referral services for problem gamblers. They are available 24/7 via telephone, chat, or e-mail. 
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Here you’ll find plenty of specialists on gambling disorders and various self-help tools.
• Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. These provided lower-risk gambling guidelines that you can use to keep addiction at bay. 

Moreover, AGCO will require all online casinos to comply with several responsible gambling regulations. Here are some of the features you’ll find in casinos as an Ontario player. 

• Financial and time-based limit-setting features. 
• Open display of responsible gambling information and links to resources.
• Opportunities for self-exclusion and time-outs.

For a casino operator to receive its license, it must pass the comprehensive RG Check, proving they meet the golden standards for responsible gambling.

Lastly, there are advertising and marketing legislations in place that will ensure vulnerable groups will not be targeted. 

Requirements to Play at Online Casinos in Ontario

To be eligible to play at an online casino in Ontario, you’ll need to be at least 19 years old. Remember that you don’t need to be physically located in Ontario to open a casino account. 

If you don’t currently reside in Ontario, you can also check our list of Canadian online casinos.

Licensed vs. Non-licensed Casinos: Quick Comparison

Although being required to play at only certain regulated casinos might feel slightly restrictive, the benefits outweigh the cons in any situation. 

Online gambling was regulated in Ontario in 2022 so players could have a safe experience. Casino operators can only become licensed if they have the players’ best interests in mind. 

A regulated casino provides transparent game and business practices policies so players know exactly what to expect. 

On the other hand, an unlicensed casino might omit important information or try to take advantage of players.

Lastly, you should always consider the security of your personal information. Regulated casinos need security measures to ensure no one can access your sensitive information. 

This is not the case with unregulated casinos. Once given to them, your personal information could be sold to third parties or exposed to the public without your consent.

Pros and Cons of Regulated Ontario Online Casinos

Regulating the online gambling space in a jurisdiction comes with a distinct set of pros and cons for individuals and the community. Here are some of the most important of them. 

How to Join a Regulated Online Casino in Ontario

If you’re ready to start playing, there are three steps you’ll need to take to join an online casino in Ontario. 

1. Look for the iGaming Ontario logo to certify that your desired casino is properly licensed and regulated

The iGaming Ontario logo must be displayed next to the brand’s logo or replaced by an alternative text. 

This should state that the casino operates under an agreement with iGaming Ontario.

Alternatively, you can look the brand up in the list of Ontario-regulated operators provided by the iGO. Don’t hesitate to use our site to check user ratings and reviews. 

These should make the decision a bit easier. 

2. Create your player account

According to the ACGO, you’ll need to provide the following information when registering at an online casino. 

• Name;
• Date of birth;
• Address;
• Username and password;
• Contact information. 

You will need to confirm your contact information is correct. This generally happens through clicking a link in an e-mail you receive automatically. You may also receive a code through e-mail or text that you will enter on the casino platform. 

3. Verify your identity

Identity verification is required by the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act. You will need to send copies of your legal identification documents to become verified. 

Additionally, you might need to complete a liveness check. This presumes using your phone’s camera or webcam to have your face analyzed and compared to the photo on your ID. 

Operators must comply with this rule to avoid money laundering practices and other potential illicit activities. The liveness check will ensure underage people cannot access the casino under someone else’s name. 

What Games Can I Play Online in Ontario?

The AGCO does not restrict the type of games that casino operators can offer on their platform. As a result, signing up for an account will allow you to play all of these casino games:

• Slots;
• Video Poker;
• Table Games, like Blackjack, Baccarat, and Roulette; 
• Live Games;

The Commission has also established a minimum RTP of 85% for all slot machine games. 

Before an operator can go live, their games must be certified by a Commission-approved Information Technology Lab (ITL). This ensures fair use of random number generators in all casino games. 

Top 3 Popular Software Providers in Ontario Casinos

Any online casino that’s worth a shot works with reputable game providers. You’ll find below the three most popular casino suppliers in Ontario. 

NetEnt

This Swedish operator brought us slots like Gonzo’s Quest and the ever-popular Starburst. They are recognized worldwide for their games' high quality. They have a mobile-centric approach, allowing casinos to offer great, responsive games for any device.

Pragmatic Play

You’ll be pressed to find an online casino that won’t feature at least a couple of Pragmatic Play titles. The developer focuses on classic and newer video slots, with some of the most popular games being Chilli Heat, Safari King, and Great Rhino. 

Their progressive jackpots are something to try your hand at at least once, so make sure you’re looking for this provider in Ontario online casinos. 

Play’N Go

You can’t have an online casino without Book of Dead. This wildly popular slot is part of the Rich Wilde series, which cemented the developer at the top of the charts. 

Their titles are entertaining and feature excellent graphics and sound design. Moreover, they patented the omni-channel technology, which allows players to resume their gambling session on any supported device. 

Available Banking Options for Online Gambling

Ontario online casinos offer a broad range of payment options, some of which are better than others. Whether you’re new to online gambling or not, we recommend using some of the methods below for the best experience. 

Interac

This service links several financial institutions and other enterprises for speedy and easy payments. You only need to provide your personal identification number on a platform, which will deduct the amount from your banking account. 

This keeps your sensitive information safe. Moreover, the transfers are almost instantaneous, making for a very convenient payment method. You can check a list of available Interac casinos on our website. 

INSTADEBIT

INSTADEBIT facilitates transactions by creating a link between your bank account and your desired online casino. This is not an e-wallet service, so you can’t fund your account’s balance for later use. 

However, through INSTADEBIT, you can safely bridge your bank account to your casino without disclosing sensitive information. You can, however, withdraw funds from your casino to INSTADEBIT. 

These funds can be further withdrawn into your bank account or used to purchase goods and services. You’ll find a complete list of INSTADEBIT casinos available on Chipy. 

Skrill

Primarily used for gambling transactions, Skrill is an e-wallet that makes it effortless to make payments or receive money from a casino. You can fund your Skrill balance from various sources and even use it to buy cryptocurrencies. 

However, some casino bonuses or promotions might not be available when you’re using Skrill. 

Ontario Gambling Statistics

According to the official iGaming Ontario report, online casinos took more than CAD $4.1 billion (USD $3.1 billion) in the first quarter of 2022. At the time, there were almost 500,000 registered accounts with money activity, although those were not all unique users. 

Monthly, players averaged around $113 in online casino spending. In the third quarter, iGaming Ontario registered $11.53 billion in total wagers for $457 million in gaming revenue. 

These statistics were measured across 36 operators and 68 gambling sites. 

In just 3 months, the active player count rose to 910,000 accounts, and the monthly average spent, to $167, per active player account. 

Brief History of Gambling in Ontario

Find below some of the most important milestones in Ontario’s gambling history. 

• 1874. The passing of the Criminal Code made it illegal to participate in any form of gambling. Section 201 specifically prohibited casinos or other establishments where people could gamble in any way. Later amendments decriminalized charity raffles, bingo games, and horse racing (in 1910). 
• 1925. One amendment to the Criminal Code made it legal for fairs to organize gambling events. These were supposed to be temporary contests, so gambling in any dedicated space was still illegal. 
• 1969. This year legalized lottery games, which included slot machines. By now, the need for dedicated gambling establishments has become apparent. 
• 1985. Each Canadian province was given a chance to make its own rules regarding gambling. 
• 1994. The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation opened the first casino in Ontario, the Casino Windsor. In 2006, its name was changed to Caesars Windsor. Since its launch, the casino has attracted millions of visitors from all over Canada and America. 
• 2004. As the interest in gambling grew, another casino opened, overlooking the Horseshoe Falls. Fallsview Casino Resort now offers more than 3,000 slot machines on its premises. 
• 2022. The AGCO finally approved an online gambling market in Ontario and kickstarted the process of safely introducing this option to its citizens. 

The legislation surrounding gambling was always unstable in Canada, as every province was left to decide for itself. Although online gambling is legal in many provinces, they still lack clear regulations that would preserve the safety of their players. You can learn more about the Ontario gambling laws and regulation from a lawyer's perspective from our Academy guide.

Choose Your Favorite Online Casinos With Chipy

Now that you’re up to speed with the legal framework, you might be looking to sign up for the best casino. You can use our site to filter through the available options and find the one that best suits your needs. 

Since 2022, several Ontario online casinos have obtained their license, so there’s no shortage of options. Feel free to use our filters to settle on the perfect one a bit faster. 

Bonne chance!