500 Casino
27 October 2026
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is revamping its approach to iGaming compliance, implementing stricter standards as the market for regulated online casinos in the province continues to grow exponentially. With 83 active websites already registered in Ontario's new market and international operators lining up to join, the AGCO is adopting a more streamlined but rigorous compliance process to enhance oversight while speeding up operator onboarding. The regulator's new risk-based, outcomes-focused approach may allow more online gaming suppliers to enter the market more quickly, but they will still be subject to audits, independent testing, and continual monitoring.
How Ontario's iGaming Model Works
Under Ontario's unique private iGaming model, the AGCO regulates internet gaming offerings through private gaming operators, while iGaming Ontario (iGO) is responsible for coordinating and operating the online gaming portal and register. Operators must work with both organizations, first registering with iGO to obtain a supplier permit, then applying to the AGCO for a gaming operator license.
"iGO helps suppliers become eligible and provides them with access to the market, while the AGCO continues to provide regulatory oversight of the gaming environment, including quality assurance, responsible gambling requirements, and the oversight of product offerings," AGCO spokesperson Molly Clark explains.
Entering the Ontario iGaming Market
To enter the Ontario market, operators must submit an independently audited assessment of their processes and controls to meet the AGCO's Registrar's Standards for Internet Gaming. Within six months of commencing operations, they must provide a further demonstration of their controls.
Suppliers must obtain certification from an AGCO-registered independent testing lab, and all games and systems must be certified by a registered ITL before being offered in Ontario. Additionally, operators must follow the AGCO's internet gaming go-live compliance guide.
The AGCO's adherence to these steps, combined with the high standards it is setting, indicates a concerted effort to stay ahead of potential problems in the fast-expanding iGaming sector.
Why the Compliance Changes?
The AGCO has taken this opportunity to modernize its compliance approach as the Ontario market rapidly expands. The regulator indicates that the new risk-based, outcomes-focused strategy will allow for more targeted monitoring and agile responses to potential issues.
"AGCO's approach to regulatory compliance is underpinned by fundamental principles of regulatory law, including regulatory authority, impartiality, transparency, accountability, predictability, and risk-based regulation," the 2024-2025 AGCO Business Plan states. "The core purpose of our regulatory compliance program is to promote public safety while enhancing consumer protection."
Ontario's iGaming Market Continues to Grow
The AGCO helped onboard 45 new operators in the 2022-23 fiscal year, including 33 who transitioned from the unregulated online casino market into the regulated space.
The regulator's latest annual report shows that by the end of 2023-24, 50 operators and 83 active websites were registered in Ontario, with a channelization rate - the percentage of online activity occurring through the province's regulated sites - of approximately 85%.
"Our outreach activities, aimed at helping unregistered operators understand the benefits and details of Ontario's regulated iGaming market, have resulted in an increase in the number of operators expressing interest in joining the regulated market," that report states.
However, AGCO spokesperson Molly Clark warns that despite this growth, operators still face stringent conditions.
"The Ontario iGaming marketplace is a premier alternative to unregulated markets, as iGaming Ontario and AGCO continue to work collaboratively to enhance and uphold industry standards," she says. "For operators, this means meeting only the highest expectations by committing to and abiding by compliance requirements."
What It Means for New Operators
The AGCO itself says the new risk-based approach may allow for a smoother process - other than that, iGaming operators in Ontario will face the same process as before: preparing thoroughly, engaging with regulators, and committing to ongoing compliance.
"We understand there are many operators in the marketplace, and our goal is simple - to enhance the player experience in iGaming," says AGCO spokesperson Molly Clark. "Regulations require online operators to implement proper safeguards so players enjoy safe, responsible gaming."
Preparing for AGCO registration means engaging with the regulator's Standards and Certificate of Compliance Guide as the first step in submission - a process that increasingly aligns with iGaming Ontario (iGO) requirements. The biggest challenge will be keeping pace with gaming policy changes as the province evolves its regulatory framework.
In this evolving landscape, iGO became an independent agency in 2024, no longer operating as a subsidiary of the AGCO. While this means continued evolution in Ontario's iGaming regulatory model, the AGCO's core compliance responsibilities remain unchanged - and in fact, are becoming more clearly defined.
