Ontario to create new body to manage online gaming
The authorities in Ontario have announced the creation of a new body, iGaming Ontario, to manage online gaming.
Canada.- The Ontario government is to create a new entity, called iGaming Ontario, as a subsidiary of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) to offer and manage online gaming and newly legalised single-event sports betting.
The move comes after a legal change by Ottawa last month to allow single-event sports betting in Canada. Ontario hopes the enterprise will be taking bets by the end of the year.
In a statement, Ontario Attorney General Doug Downey said the measure was a “pivotal milestone in our work to ensure people have access to a safe and regulated online gaming market”. He said he expects Ontario to become a “world leader” in the industry.
Downey added: “We are determined to work with industry, responsible gaming advocates and regulatory partners to ensure Ontario is a world leader in building a safe online gaming environment that meets consumer expectations”.
The subsidiary will operate independently of the AGCO, with its own staff and board of directors, but will still be regulated by the AGCO.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), which manages Lotto 649 and LottoMax in Ontario, will continue to control its own online offerings through its website.
