As per the announcement of iGaming Ontario (iGO), which operates under the jurisdiction of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), Ontario will launch the province’s first legal iGaming market. According to iGO, the date set for the opening of the new iGaming market is the 4th of April.
This news come after AGCO presented the final version of the new iGaming and sports betting regulations in September of 2021. Moreover, the new regulations will also include changes regarding the advertising policy, as well as integrity and transparency rules. Prior to this, AGCO released the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming on the 14th of July, without specifying a date for the launch.
Consequently, starting from April 4th, all online casino operators that have an operating contract with iGO, in addition to being registered with AGCO, are free to start offering their gaming services to the citizens of Ontario.
According to Martha Otton, executive director at iGO, the goal is to provide a safe gaming environment for players from Ontario. And that the iGO intends to impose and maintain a strict set of rules for the operators that will offer iGaming services.
Consumers can be assured that companies who successfully enter the new Ontario market will have met rigorous standards of game and operator integrity, fairness, player protection and social responsibility, allowing all players to play with confidence.
Martha Otton – Executive Director – iGO
Furthermore, Otton also adds that aside from providing a clear legal framework within the province, the new iGaming market in Ontario will also improve the entertainment prowess. And this is in addition to opening a new income stream for the province, and the state regulators.
It seems like the news about the launch of the iGaming market in Ontario is very well received in the iGaming community. This includes both gaming operators and independent gaming enthusiasts alike. For that matter, there are quite a few experts and analysts that believe Ontario has the potential to become the leading online casino/gambling market in North America.
Martha Otton – Executive Director – iGO
Affiliate operator Bonusfinder, already stated back in December of 2021, that this launch can easily make Ontario the number one iGaming market in North America. To prove that is the case, Bonusfinder highlighted several key reasons such as the diversity of the competition, the generosity of the promotions and the bonuses, and most importantly, its population. Considering that the state of New York is the current leader in this category.
For now, all we can do is eagerly wait for the 4th of April.
