Toronto vs. Alberta: battle of the casino regulations
Over the years, various provinces across Canada have begun to find their way into the casino scene. Through evolving laws and progressing regulations, an increasing number of Canadian hot spots have started to offer their community new ways to play casino classics, such as developing their very own regulated online gaming sites. But how do they get to this point?
Join us as we take a look at two of the top Canadian casino destinations on the map, and take a look at how they support their players and ensure that all gameplay remains safe and regulated.
Toronto
As the capital of Ontario, Toronto’s casino scene is regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) which looks to implement the Alcohol, Cannabis and Gaming Regulation (1998) and the Public Protection Act (1996). In short, the AGCO is responsible for regulating all alcohol, gaming, betting and cannabis-related activity that occurs within the province. The goal is to ensure that these leisure activities are carried out with honesty and integrity, and adhering to public interest. Further acts have been put in place to aid the commission in achieving this, making it clear to the people of Ontario – and with it, Toronto – what is expected of them in their downtime.
Playing online in Toronto is also a heavily regulated experience. In terms of the online casino of choice, the only regulated site in Toronto’s province is provided by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), which is overseen by the aforementioned AGCO. Here you’ll find a wide range of casino classics, but with the added excitement of being able to play them from your own home. The idea behind the OLG was to not only tighten regulations and safety, but also generate revenue to feed back into the province and contribute to economic development.
In more recent times, the Ontario government has also formulated iGaming Ontario in order to manage online gaming within the province, namely those that are accessed through private operators. Established in July 2021, the agency is yet to reach its full capacity, as it looks to enter commercial agreements with the top operators who meet their rigorous standards of integrity, fairness, player protection and social responsibility. The aim is to maximise safety, whilst also creating a competitive and open online gaming market within Ontario’s gaming scene, including Toronto. Once flourished, the province should have a wide range of choices for the consumer, as well as means of protection when playing online.
Alberta
Much like Toronto, Alberta has developed its own governing board to oversee all gaming and substance-related activity within the province. The group in question is the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) commission, and focusses on all arguably “taboo” recreational activities, working to keep things safe and regulated. The rules and policies put in place by the AGLC help to maintain the integrity and security of these activities, whilst also working to maximise the financial return and economic benefits of gaming.
One of the biggest gaming projects undertaken by the AGLC is the move into the online casino market, introducing Play Alberta to the province. Play Alberta is still a fairly new addition to the Alberta gambling scene, having only been launched in 2020. What makes this site stand out from the crowd is the lack of one. Play Alberta is the only legally regulated online casino in the province. This exclusivity allows any profit made from the site to then be funnelled back into Alberta’s General Revenue Fund – monitored by the AGLC – and used to support initiatives that will in turn benefit the general public.
Play Alberta also receives the support of GameSense, an organisation that offers information and advice on gambling habits, as well as guidance for any players who are struggling to stay in control. This is just another example of the online casino’s care of duty for players, ensuring that all Alberta residents are kept safe, if they choose to play their favourite games online.
The winner?
As you can probably tell, the only winner here is the residents of these regulated provinces and the cities within them! By keeping things under control, and offering as much support as possible along the way, prospective players can rest assured that they will stay safe and sound whilst also enjoying a flutter from the comfort of their own home.
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