In Ontario there are lots of online casinos to choose from, but it’s crucial to make sure that you choose one that has been verified to make sure that it operates safely and fairly.
You can find out whether a casino is legitimate by searching on its website for certifications or logos from regulatory bodies such as eCOGRA or iTech Labs. Alternatively, you can search websites like the Gambling Commission to see if the online casino is recognized by them.
If a casino has the correct certifications, this means that its games are regularly tested to ensure fairness, and that it is committed to protecting players from harm.
In this article, we’ll explain how to recognize fair play certifications at online casinos in Ontario, Canada, so that you can play with peace of mind.
What Is Fair Play Certification?
Let’s take a look at exactly what fair play certification is, and its role in protecting players from harm.
Definition and Importance
Fair play certification is carried out by independent regulatory bodies or organizations to ensure that online casinos and their games are fair, unbiased and compliant with the law. This involves testing their RNG (random number generator), which is software that casinos use to determine the outcomes of slot games to ensure that they are truly random.
If an online casino is certified, the RTP (return to player, or the amount of money that is theoretically returned to players over a large number of spins) of its games will have been checked too, as well as the casino’s compliance with licensing regulations.
Role in Player Protection
If you’re playing at an online casino, you have peace of mind that everything is legitimate. It means that whether you win or lose, these outcomes are truly random and the games are not rigged.
Legitimate casinos are also committed to protecting their players’ personal and financial information, and promoting safe and responsible gambling.
Regulatory Bodies in Ontario
There are a couple of key regulatory bodies in Ontario, and if an online casino is verified by them you can be sure it is safe. Here’s some information about what they do:
Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)
All online casinos operating in Ontario must be registered with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and meet the standards provided by the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming. Casinos are regularly assessed to ensure that they remain compliant with the Standards.
Casinos like Spin Genie that have successfully registered with the AGCO and have executed an operating agreement with iGO (a subsidiary of AGCO) can offer their games to players in Ontario.
iGaming Ontario
iGaming Ontario (iGO) is dedicated to making sure that online casinos are compliant with regulations and follow responsible gambling practices. This includes offering self-exclusion programs to help players to take breaks from online gambling, and promoting responsible gambling as part of the casinos’ marketing.
The organisation works closely with online casinos to ensure fair play, secure transactions, data protection, and robust anti anti-money laundering measures. Playing at AGCO-accredited casinos is the only fully legal way to gamble online in Ontario, since the alternatives involve visiting offshore casino websites that sit within a legal grey area.
By contrast, casinos that are approved by AGCO and iGO offer data protection, guaranteed fairness, tools for responsible gambling, and ease of reporting issues. This allows players in Ontario to enjoy online gambling in a safe and secure environment. On the iGO website, you can search for a casino in its directory to check that it is regulated.
How to Recognize Fair Play Certifications
Although there isn’t one standard ‘fair play certification’, there are a number of legitimate certifications that show that a casino is safe to use. Here’s some information about these certifications and where to find them:
Common Certification Marks
There are a few logos and seals to look out for at online casinos. These certifications are from recognized testing agencies – learn how to recognize them below:
- eCOGRA: Its logo features its name, with a white checkmark symbol in a blue box.
- iTech Labs: The iTech Labs certification usually appears with text that reads ‘iTech Labs, Independently Tested.’
- GLI (Gaming Laboratories International): The Gaming Labs certification is usually a red checkmark in a blue box, with the words ‘Gaming Labs Certified.’
- iGaming Ontario (iGO): The logo features its name, plus a dice symbol.
Where to Find Certification Information
Look for logos from the above organizations on the casino’s website. They will usually be shown in the footer at the bottom of each page – this is where you can find them on the Spin Genie website. You can sometimes click on the logos to find out more information about the regulatory body that awarded the certification.
Casinos often include information about their licences in the About Us section of their website, so it’s useful to check there too.
How to Verify Certifications
Before trying a new online casino, it’s a good idea to cross-reference their certification to make sure it’s legitimate. Here’s how to do this:
Cross-Referencing with Regulatory Bodies
Some regulatory bodies such as the iGO have directories on their websites where you can check that a casino is verified. Simply type in the name of the casino you’re looking for, or browse the selection shown alphabetically.
Hint: If you’re searching for us, you’ll need to enter ‘spingenie’ as one word rather than two!
If the casino doesn’t appear in the iGO directory, you should not visit it because it is not licensed to operate in Ontario.
Checking Testing Agency Validity
Organizations and regulatory bodies like eCOGRA and the iGO are fully legitimate, and their certifications can be trusted. You can find out more about the organizations by visiting the About Us section on their website, or by performing your own research via Google.
If you’re not sure about the legitimacy of a testing agency that isn’t mentioned in this article, our advice is to be cautious and try to verify the casino via the iGO directory.
Spin Genie's Commitment to Fair Play
Spin Genie is a fully licensed online casino that is dedicated to fair play and the safety of our players. Here’s more about how we make sure our casino is fair:
Certifications and Audits
Our casino is certified as fair by the iGO and iTech Labs. These certifications appear at the bottom right of our main website pages, and you can find out more about these organizations by clicking on the logos.
Our casino is regularly audited by independent bodies to ensure that our games are fair and that their outcomes are truly random.
Transparency Measures
We want to be fully transparent about how we operate, showing our players that we have their best interests at heart. We publish the RTP (return to player) of each game on our website, which shows how much a game will theoretically pay out over a long period of time.
We are also committed to responsible gambling, and we recognize the risks to vulnerable players. By sharing information about how to gamble responsibly and seek support if necessary, we can look out for our players.
The Importance of Playing at Certified Casinos
Here’s why you should only play at certified casinos like Spin Genie:
Ensuring Fair Gameplay
Playing at a certified casino is the only way to guarantee fair gameplay. Unlicensed casinos are likely to rig games and take advantage of players, often with serious consequences for the players.
By playing at fair casinos, you can relax and enjoy the gaming experience safe in the knowledge that the casino is legitimate.
Protecting Personal and Financial Information
Licensed casinos are required by law to secure and protect your sensitive data, including your personal and financial information. If you play at an illegitimate casino, your information is at risk and could be shared with third parties.
Play It Safe with Online Gaming at Spin Genie
Licensed online casinos like Spin Genie are dedicated to creating a safe, fair and supportive environment for their players. Player protection and fair play are at the heart of what we do, and we want all our players to be able to gamble safely and responsibly, while having fun too. Check out our selection of slot games at Spin Genie, a fair casino.
