Online Casinos And Sports Betting In Ontario

Gambling is an age-old pastime but recently has moved to a different platform. The federal government and the government of Ontario introduced new legislation regulating online casinos, sports betting and other types of gambling online.

As of April 4, 2022, Ontario became the first province in Canada to allow its residents access to legal online gambling. So, what was the driver behind this move, and how does it affect you if you gamble?

Online Gambling in Ontario

Ontarians have been gambling online for at least 20 years. Since only limited platforms were available in Canada, many used betting sites outside Canada. The sites are called “grey sites.”  Additionally, if you were betting on sports, you couldn’t bet on a single event using Canadian sites. You could only bet on multiple events, reducing your odds of winning.

The different levels of government realized there were two major problems with “grey sites.” First, many off-shore sites did not offer their customers enough protection. Some sites did not secure personal information sufficiently. Others may have engaged in unfair play or offered late or no payouts of winnings. Resolving complaints could also be challenging on these sites. To operate in Ontario, regulated gambling sites must follow the rules and regulations set out by the province to protect consumers.

Secondly, large sums of cash went out of the province rather than staying in Ontario. Canadians used out-of-country sites like DraftKings and Betway to place their bets. After regulating online gambling, many of these sites started operating in Ontario.

Regulating online casinos has paid off for the province. More than 12,000 jobs have been created. These businesses also generate a significant amount of revenue. In the first year of operation, revenues from online gambling added 1.4 billion to Ontario’s gross domestic product. All three levels of government benefited. The federal government received $238 million, while the province and municipalities received $469 million and $54 million in revenue, respectively.

Laws and Regulations Online Casinos and Other Betting Sites Must Follow

If they want to operate in Ontario, online casinos and other betting sites must follow Ontario’s gambling rules. Gaming Ontario (iGO) regulates these sites. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) set up iGO to oversee sites offering gambling. These sites include online casinos, sports betting, lotteries and other games of chance.

The rules generally fall into two categories. The first is policies, procedures and laws to protect you from unsavoury practices. The second category is regulations to shield you from developing a problem like a gambling addiction.

Maintaining integrity

Licensing by the Ontario government to operate an online casino or other betting site means the business must know and follow the rules set out by the province and follow them. Some regulations designed to protect you from unfair outcomes are:

• Companies must avoid practices like match-fixing.
• They cannot offer inducements to encourage further gambling, like bonuses or a free wheel spin.
• To ensure fair play, an independent testing lab must test and certify games before getting the AGCO’s approval.
• Gambling companies must follow Ontario laws to keep data safe and private.
• Sites must handle complaints fairly and promptly.

Rules protecting you

Gambling can lead to severe problems like too much debt, stress and addiction. Due to the possible pitfalls of gambling, sites that offer these services must put preventative measures in place to identify potential problems. These measures help them identify potential issues and help you if they believe you might be getting in over your head.

If you are a player, you must follow the laws set out by the province. These are:

• You must be 19 years of age to play online casino games or participate in sports betting.
• You can play the lotteries or bingo if you are 18 years of age or older.
• To play on Ontario’s regulated gambling sites, you must be within the borders of Ontario and allow the gambling site access to your geolocation.

Gambling operators typically have procedures in place to confirm your age and location. These sites must also have other measures in place to monitor behaviour and set limits if they feel it’s necessary. These measures include:

• Prohibiting advertising to minors or targeting minors with advertising that would appeal to them.
• Not permitting advertising extolling the virtues of gambling that could exploit high-risk groups or prey on their vulnerability.
• Limiting marketing activities to gamblers who they know are high-risk.
• Having systems in place to identify and monitor players who are at high risk for harming themselves with their gambling activity.
• Having assistance available for players who may be experiencing harmful effects from playing.
• Providing 24/7 live customer support.

How to protect yourself

According to Statscan, in 2018, 64% of Canadians over the age of 15 stated they had gambled in the last year. The most common form was lottery tickets. Canadians also went to casinos, played online games, participated in sports betting and horse races, engaged in speculative investing, and played bingo and instant win lottery tickets. If you choose to gamble, some ways you can keep yourself safe are:

• Use a government-regulated site. iGO sites have safeguards to protect your information, resolve your complaint and monitor behaviour for potential risk factors.
• Look for the iGO logo to ensure the site you’re using is approved by the government.
• Don’t gamble money you can’t afford to lose. These companies are in business to make money for themselves, not to make payouts, so the odds are stacked against you.
• If you feel you need help, you can visit connexontario or call them at 1-866-531-2600 to find resources for gambling and addictions.

Finding Help for Your Debt

If you’re in debt because of gambling or for any other reason, you don’t have to struggle alone. Trying to manage debt when you owe more than you can pay can increase stress and reduce your quality of life.

At Adamson and Associates, we have a team of Licensed Insolvency Trustees who offer government-approved debt solutions like a Consumer Proposal or filing for Bankruptcy to get you out of debt. Book your free consultation online or by calling us at  1-519-310-5646. We’ll work with you to find the best solution to what you owe and get you back on track financially.