Beginning on April 4, 2022, Ontario will launch its iGaming market. This launch comes via a partnership with the region’s government and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
Specifically, spring will see operators that have registered with the AGCO and have been approved by its subsidiary, iGaming Ontario, gain access to the fifth largest gaming market by population in North America.
Speaking on the announcement, iGaming Ontario stressed that each operator that is approved for launch will be subject to rigorous testing for integrity, fairness, player protection and social responsibility.
Since this news broke, a number of the gaming industry’s biggest names have spoken out in praise of the decision, with Penn National Gaming’s President and CEO, Jay Snowden, stating: “Today’s news is very exciting, and I would like to recognize and congratulate the government of Ontario and the AGCO and iGaming Ontario for their dedication to creating a modern open and regulated sports betting and iGaming market.”
Penn National will launch in the region via its brand theScore, a company that has transitioned from the sports media space into the sports betting and iGaming sector.
“We commend the Ontario government for their tireless efforts throughout this process and are thrilled to now have a confirmed launch date,” said John Levy, CEO, theScore.
“The AGCO and iGaming Ontario have been thoughtful and collaborative in their approach to creating and managing this new industry, and the result is a soon-to-be-launched framework that will bring widespread benefits to Ontarians and establish Ontario as one of the biggest and most important regulated gaming markets in North America.”
The road to launch has been a long one in Canada, with the approval of single event sports wagering providing significant fuel to the iGaming fire in recent months.
Speaking to Gaming America, Paul Burns, President and CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association, highlighted that attempts to launch an iGaming market throughout the country are more than a decade in the making, with the success of sports betting in the United States finally providing the evidence authorities needed to make Canadian iGaming happen.
In a statement given to the Canadian Gaming Association, Burns said: “This is another major milestone and achievement for Ontario's gaming industry after sports betting. The move to establish a regulated iGaming market in this province will ensure that the people of Ontario have access to safe and legal gambling options online while encouraging investment and job creation in Ontario.”
