Ontario boasts the largest online gambling market in Canada, with 40+ operators currently licensed to operate in the province. Moreover, it has some of the most robust gambling laws. iGaming Ontario, the province’s online gambling regulator, has played a big part in shaping the online slots market.
The role of iGaming Ontario in online slots operations goes deep and far. Overall, it helps to create a fair and safe environment for operators and players alike. Here is a deeper dive into its biggest responsibilities.
Bringing Order through Licensing & Regulation
iGaming Ontario has played an instrumental role in legalizing online gambling in Ontario. It was involved in the deliberations that led to the legalization. Attorney General Doug Downey acknowledged this when he said, “I want to especially commend the strong leadership of Executive Director Martha Otton, Board Chair Dave Forestel, and the rest of the team at iGaming Ontario for helping us transform Ontario into a global leader in the sector.”
Before online gambling became legal in Ontario, residents could still access offshore casinos. Unfortunately, some of the casinos were not properly regulated, which exposed Canadian players to various risks. Moreover, the government couldn’t do much to control the illegal gambling market.
iGaming Ontario is now responsible for licensing and regulating private operators. Moreover, it now takes more efficient measures to restrict access to offshore, likely untrustworthy casinos. As such, it has helped bring order to an otherwise chaotic online gambling market.
Protecting Players
Perhaps the biggest role of iGaming Ontario in online slots regulation is protecting players. Before the authority came into the picture, players were at risk of exploitation by offshore casinos. However, most of the residents in Ontario now play at locally regulated betting sites.
iGaming Ontario protects players in various ways, including the following:
Responsible Gambling Requirements
The regulator requires all operators to provide the following responsible gambling tools:
- Deposit limits
- Reality checks
- Loss limits
- Self-exclusion
- Bet limits
- Time limits
These tools help players manage their gambling activities. For example, deposit, loss, and bet limits help them manage their finances properly. Time limits and reality checks also help them manage their time well.
Ensuring Fair Play
iGaming Ontario also ensures that all casinos guarantee fair play on all their games. It even conducts regular RNG audits to check whether outcomes are skewed. This gives players a fair chance of winning with some luck and a good strategy.
Interestingly, online slots RTP rates in Ontario are the highest in Canada. Moreover, casinos in Ontario offer better bonuses and promotions. The offers are smaller than bonuses from offshore casinos, which were unrealistically high. However, they are decent. More importantly, they have fair wagering requirements that players can easily fulfill to unlock their winnings.
Securing Funds & Transactions
Players in Ontario need not worry about missing their withdrawals. iGaming Ontario takes various measures to protect players’ funds and secure transactions. For example, it requires operators to keep players’ deposits in segregated accounts. Moreover, it demands that operators integrate secure payment methods.
Providing Legal Recourse
The online gambling market in Ontario is much safer now that it is regulated. However, players may still face challenges that may require outside intervention. In such cases, iGaming Ontario provides legal recourse against rogue operators.
For example, iGaming Ontario can follow up with operators to ensure that any rightful winnings that were withheld are released. It can also sue or fine operators for gross misconduct, such as misleading advertisements.
Lodging complaints with iGaming Ontario is easy. Moreover, the authority tries to solve complaints as fast as possible. However, you must prove that you tried to resolve the issue with the online casino before taking it to the authorities.
Generating & Collecting Revenue
The online gambling market in Ontario has been growing quickly since legalization in 2022. The province collected $22.7 billion in the third quarter of 2024, an exponential increase compared to the previous year. The Ontario online slots vs Canada market is the biggest.
The provincial government adds the revenue generated from the online gambling market to the Provincial Consolidated Revenue Fund. This fund finances many useful projects, including education, healthcare, infrastructure, and social programs. Some of the money also goes towards mitigating and managing the negative effects of online gambling in a bid to cancel out the industry’s vices.
Conclusion
The role of iGaming Ontario in online slots operations is crucial. The authority ensures that players have a safe and fair gaming environment. Moreover, it creates a reliable environment for private operators willing to meet its requirements. Clearly, its importance cannot be understated, and it will continue playing an integral role in the industry’s growth.
