Ontario iGaming Explained: What Changed for Players in April 2022
Ontario's regulated private online gambling market launched on 4 April 2022. It gives eligible adults access to privately operated casino and sportsbook websites within a provincial framework, alongside the separate OLG.ca service. The practical starting point is the exact website address: check it in the official directory before registering.
Who does what?
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, or AGCO, regulates the sector and sets standards. iGaming Ontario, or iGO, conducts and manages the private online gambling market through agreements with operators. A private operator needs AGCO registration and an agreement with iGO to participate.
iGaming Ontario became a standalone provincial agency in May 2025. Older descriptions calling it an AGCO subsidiary are out of date. Its current business plan explains that change and its role.
How to check a casino
- Open the official regulated-site directory.
- Match the exact domain, not just the brand name or logo.
- Read that site's eligibility, payment and withdrawal terms before depositing.
You must be at least 19 and physically in Ontario to play on these regulated sites. Account access from elsewhere can differ from permission to gamble. OLG.ca operates separately under the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.
What regulation does and does not mean
Participating operators must meet the applicable provincial standards. That does not make gambling a way to earn money or make every promotion suitable for you. Read the withdrawal policy, identity-check requirements and bonus conditions for the particular account and offer.
An overseas licence or a casino's willingness to accept your registration does not establish Ontario authorisation. The same brand may use separate websites in different markets. Our reviews describe published terms; their inclusion on Bankroll Bob is not proof that a site is authorised where you are.
Complaints about a regulated operator
Use the operator's formal complaint process first. Save your transaction references, relevant terms and written response. If your concern remains unresolved, consult iGaming Ontario's player support guidance for the appropriate next step.
iGaming Ontario does not decide individual transaction disputes or arbitrate between players and operators. A complaint is not a guarantee of repayment. The guidance also explains the limits of its role for websites outside Ontario's regulated market.
Taking a break with BetGuard
BetGuard launched in May 2026 as Ontario's centralised online self-exclusion service. It allows people aged 19 or older to opt out of Ontario's regulated online gambling platforms through one portal. Read the official programme details for its coverage, available periods and enrolment process.
Use the official links from iGaming Ontario when accessing the service. For support in Ontario, contact ConnexOntario on 1-866-531-2600. Our support page also lists national resources and urgent help.
Does this apply outside Ontario?
No. Other provinces have their own arrangements. Alberta opened its regulated private iGaming market in July 2026; consult AGLC's current information for that province. Being listed by iGaming Ontario does not automatically authorise an operator elsewhere.
For the wider distinction between website access, overseas licensing and provincial authorisation, read our Canadian online gambling guide.
Reviewed 25 September 2026. General information only. Follow the linked official sources for current requirements.
