iGaming Ontario (iGO) is the current regulator of the province’s gaming market. A subsidiary of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), its main role is to create a safer, more qualitative environment for all players.
The new Ontario gaming licence has already made a major impact on the Canadian industry, despite only being introduced in April 2022.
In this article, we will explain the most notable changes and how they affected the Canadian online gambling market.
Main legislative modifications and their effects
The latest version of Internet Gaming Standards includes the following regulations:
Stern marketing limitations
Online casinos and land-based gambling operators in Ontario are no longer allowed to market the use of bonuses, inducements, and credits.
This means that all gambling-related public marketing is prohibited, including algorithm-based and target advertising.
What is allowed?
Now, operators are only allowed to market their services via their own channels (official website, for instance) and direct advertising.
Direct advertising includes emails, text messages, and calls, and it is only permitted after receiving active consent from the player.
All permitted advertisements must contain a responsible gambling message.
Consequences: How the marketing limitations influence third parties
Third-party independent reviewers will most likely be affected by the new regulations, as players can no longer access casino platforms via ads.
It seems that Ontario players may have to find casinos without any intermediaries in the future, at least for the most part.
Since this helps exclude biased or inequitable announcements regarding promotions and services, it may be beneficial long-term.
However, the rule also eliminates reliable reviewers from the equation.
Players can only hope that the casino advertisements communicated via the operators’ own channels provide sufficient information.
Security regulations for gambling operators
- The games and iGaming system elements involving the outcomes of bets, as well as their display and associated log details must be approved by the Registrar or by an independent testing laboratory registered by them;
- If a game is faulty, its availability must be interrupted until the issue is resolved;
- Game outcomes must be recoverable when it is technically possible;
- Service interruptions must be dealt with in a manner that does not disadvantage the users, and they must be announced.
The Ontario gaming environment seems to be more secure after imposing licencing
The iGaming Ontario regulations regarding security make it almost impossible for casino operators to use unjust mechanisms that could disadvantage players.
This is also facilitated by the imposition of additional verifications, such as those conducted to check the accuracy of game outcomes and how operators pay them.
A heightened level of safety and security may determine players to trust casino operators quicker.
Users are now 1.5% more likely to perform a deposit.
Even more, the total deposits have increased by 15% since the license was introduced, showing that players may be more confident in spending at casinos now that operators must abide by stricter rules.
According to a report from CasinoBonusCA, there is a 40% decrease in registering players who deposit, suggesting that Ontario residents are less likely to access and use casino platforms.
This may come from the firm advertisement restrictions imposed, which make the gaming market less accessible to the public.
Compared to the 1.5% increase in the total deposit amount, though, this may not be disadvantageous at all.
Extensive eligibility criteria
Ontario players now have to meet a broader range of requirements to register at any casino operator on the market, including:
- Be at least 19 years old, unless you only register to purchase a lottery ticket;
- Members/employees of the AGCO and iGaming Ontario are prohibited from creating casino accounts.
Casino operators must meet additional monitoring and verification requirements, such as using mechanisms that detect player location software.
Where is the Ontario industry headed?
The eligibility criteria for players have their ups and downs, and further development is necessary to observe any upcoming trends.
However, this factor may not significantly influence the changes in user numbers. Except for the minimum age limit modification (from 18 to 19), most requirements had already been adopted by reliable casino operators.
Therefore, KYC procedures and contact information conditions will not come as a surprise for users who have already been playing in safe gaming environments.
Either way, according to the statistics presented so far, the need for safety may exceed the need for keeping your details private. Overall consequences of regulation changes and future perspectives
Overall consequences of regulation changes and future perspectives
While fewer customers are willing to discover casino platforms on their own, those who do are trusting enough to perform higher transactions than before.
Approximately $500 million out of the $1.2 billion revenue the Canadian gambling industry earned in 2021 came from the Ontario market.
In 2022, the now-regulated Ontario market has already reached $750 million, suggesting that the Canadian gambling industry could become even more profitable in the long run.
Predictions
One thing we can safely predict is that casinos licensed by iGaming Ontario will provide much more security than before.
Since the recently introduced legislation has impacted statistics greatly in only a few months, we have yet to see how customers and operators will adapt to the changes.
Other articles from mtltimes.ca – totimes.ca – otttimes.ca
Caerula Mar Club a new standard in paradise – South Andros Bahamas
You must be logged in to post a comment.