Ontario is the first and only province in Canada to operate regulated sportsbooks, which are all governed by AGCO and iGO. In this guide, we’ll explain how iGaming Ontario and AGCO regulate sports betting sites in the Heartland Province.
As the regulator in the province, AGCO registers and licenses sports betting operators. iGO conducts and manages the province’s sports betting market. The comprehensive framework provided by these two organizations is designed to ensure you enjoy a safe and fair environment while you are placing wagers on your favourite sports at licensed Ontario sportsbooks. Keep reading to learn more.
Legalization of Sports Betting and Regulations in Ontario
The passing of Bill C-218 by the Parliament of Canada in June 2021 gave the ten provinces in the country a green light to form a regulated sports betting market as they see fit. With Ontario having the highest population in Canada, we can understand why April 2022 saw it become the first province to offer its residents a regulated market for sports betting in the country. This led to 34 licensed sports betting sites launching in the Heartland Province. Each of these operators holds a license from the Crown regulatory agency AGCO (Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario) and has passed the rigorous testing by iGO (iGaming Ontario).
The Role of AGCO in Regulating Sports Betting in Ontario
We consider AGCO as the watchdog, as it oversees the sports betting industry in Ontario and sets the initial regulations. Below, we have provided the duties and roles of AGCO in regulating ON sportsbooks:
Registers and Licenses Sportsbooks
The regulator handles the official registration of sports betting operators and imposes strict requirements on applicants. Operators must meet these requirements to obtain a license that allows them to enter the sports betting market in the province.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario does a background check on each sportsbook operator that applies for a license. This includes verifying if its source of income is legitimate. The regulator will also check the brand’s financial history to confirm if it has any debts. What’s more? They will review the company’s performance to determine if it deserves a license.
Scrutinizes and Audits Betting Sites
Its duties don’t stop once they have licensed sportsbooks. As part of the AGCO regulatory assurance activities, they carry out audits and reviews of Ontario sportsbooks to ensure each betting site is compliant with the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act. The regulator also inspects if operators take steps to identify and deter criminal activities, such as money laundering, from occurring on their sports betting sites. We did some digging and found that the regulatory requirements sportsbooks must meet include validating your source of funds when making a big deposit. They are also required to report any suspicious activity to the AGCO.
AGCO also inspects if
sportsbooks in Ontario
comply with Canadian privacy laws by protecting your information and have put in place security measures to ensure your data is safeguarded against hackers. They also monitor betting sites to ensure they implement KYC procedures to prevent fraud. This includes asking new signups to submit proof of identity and address. In turn, this helps ensure you enjoy a safe sports betting environment.
They also monitor sportsbooks to ensure they implement responsible gambling measures that help you manage your behavior and bet safely. These include tools we have featured in the table below:
Responsible gambling tool
How it works
Deposit limits
Allow you to set the maximum amount of money you can add to your account within a specified period.
Time limits
Help you control the time you spend on a sportsbook.
Loss limits
Enables you to set the maximum amount you are willing to lose within a certain timeframe.
Imposes Fines and Penalties
We have seen AGCO issue thousands of Canadian dollars in monetary penalties to sports betting operators who are not compliant with the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act. This ensures sportsbooks operate within provincial regulations, which is great since it means we can only access reliable and transparent sites that have met all the legal requirements. We also love this approach since it supports responsible gambling.
Amends and Updates Gambling Rules
AGCO is responsible for developing new rules that Ontario sportsbooks can follow to promote responsible gambling and protect vulnerable people, including self-excluded sports bettors and youths in Ontario. For instance, they recently updated their Mystery Shop Program to protect youths. This strengthened approach allowed AGCO inspectors to team up with Youth Compliance Monitors aged 16 -18. The program is designed to test and confirm that sports betting sites perform verification checks to ensure that only bettors who are at least 19 years old register.
IGO’s Role in Regulating Ontario Sportsbooks
The iGaming Ontario was established in July 202, 9 months ahead of the launch of Ontario’s regulated sports betting market. The main role of iGO is to regulate the commercial side of the sports betting industry. They facilitate partnerships with sports betting operators and ensure they uphold the legal framework.
All operators who wish to offer sports betting services in Ontario must sign an agreement with iGaming Ontario. With that in mind, let’s look at the main role of the iGO:
Contract and onboard sports betting operators
Manage revenue sharing between Ontario and fully-licensed operators
Monitor ongoing compliance with commercial agreements
Ensure sportsbooks operating in the province implement responsible gambling standards
Enjoy Safe Sports Betting at Regulated Ontario Sportsbooks
The iGO and AGCO play different roles in the Ontario sports betting scene. While iGO’s job is to handle the commercial side, AGCO is responsible for overseeing sports betting in the province. If you would like to place bets on your favourite sports, we recommend joining the sportsbooks on our on-page banners, as these two organizations govern them. So that means they support responsible gambling, protect your data, and provide a safe environment for you to participate in sports betting.
How AGCO and iGO Regulate Sportsbooks FAQs
AGCO’s role is to focus on regulation and standards, while iGO conducts and manages sports betting in Ontario.
No. iGO stopped being a subsidiary of AGCO in 2025, meaning it operates as a distinct entity.
There are currently 34 AGCO-licensed sportsbooks in Ontario
