More than 90% of Ontarian players choose legal sites, according to study
A study commissioned by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and iGaming Ontario found a rise in the proportion of gamblers choosing licensed sites.
Canada.- Four years on from the launch of regulated igaming in the Canadian province of Ontario, a study has estimated that 91.1 per cent of players are choosing legal sites. That’s a rise of 7.4 per cent from a year ago.
The channelisation study was commissioned by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and iGaming Ontario and carried out by Ipsos. Only 8.9 per cent of respondents reported gambling only on unregulated sites, down from 16.3 per cent last year.
“Prior to the launch of Ontario’s competitive igaming market in April 2022, the Government of Ontario had estimated that 70 per cent of online gambling was taking place on unregulated sites.
Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, added: “This increase in Ontarians choosing regulated igaming sites proves that we’ve taken the right approach to responsibly expanding the online gaming market. By prioritising player protections and embedding responsible gaming tools into the market, our government is committed to providing a safer experience for players across the province.”
Karin Schnarr, chief executive officer and registrar at AGCO, commented: “It’s encouraging to see more and more Ontarians choosing regulated sites when they gamble online. This continued shift reflects the strength of Ontario’s model and its focus on protecting players. The AGCO remains committed to addressing the residual illegal market and ensuring regulated operators meet Ontario’s strong regulatory standards.”
Joseph Hillier, president and CEO of iGaming Ontario, said: “Today’s findings are further proof that Ontario continues to strike the right balance of providing players the choice and protection they need to have confidence in the regulated igaming market. iGaming Ontario is committed to building a safe and robust marketplace for players and operators alike.”
iGaming Ontario launches self-exclusion tool
iGaming Ontario recently announced the launch of BetGuard, a tool that enables individuals to voluntarily opt out of all Ontario-regulated online gaming platforms via a single online portal. Exclusion prevents players from accessing existing accounts, creating new accounts, or receiving marketing communications from any regulated igaming site in the Canadian province.
BetGuard offers a website where anyone 19 years of age and older can opt out of online gaming without the need to visit individual igaming websites. It allows players to exclude for a term of 6 months, 1 year, 5 years or a custom term. The tool also informs operators not to send direct marketing to individuals who have opted out.
