Ontario to take action against illegal casinos as early as October 31
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has made changes to its registration standards for Internet casino gaming. This means that before long, unlicensed iGaming operators will either have to withdraw from the legal market in Ontario or face ” appropriate regulatory action “. The province’s goal is to ensure a safer online gaming market for consumers.
Ontario regulator ready to penalize illegal operators
On October 31, 2022, significant changes will take effect in Ontario’s online casino gaming market. The AGCO has made several changes, one of which directly affects the 1.22 standard.
Under the new rules, unregulated online gaming operators and their service provider partners will now be required to cease operations after a new notice period, the details of which will be announced shortly. Initially, a period of notice was established to allow license applicants to to comply with applicable laws without causing prejudice to local players.
From now on, the new standard establishes that operators and suppliers who are active in the regulated market but who have not been approved by the AGCO or its subsidiary iGaming Ontario, or who have agreements and partnerships with companies based in unregulated jurisdictions, shall cease operations. Failure to comply with the new directive would seriously jeopardize the chances of these same companies obtaining a license.
” As with any instance of non-compliance, AGCO will take appropriate regulatory action against any registrant who fails to comply with the new standard once it is effective on October 31 of this year 2022 “, said AGCO.
The delicate issue of live dealer casino games
Meanwhile, the AGCO, which has seen an increase in the popularity of casino games with dealers live since the opening of the market on April 04, has also announced changes to the standards for this type of product.
For example, Standard 4.09 has been amended to state that gaming systems and supplies shall be provided, installed, configured, maintained, repaired, stored and operated in a manner that ensures the integrity, safety and security of such equipment. In addition, Standard 4.35 states that access to live dealer gaming supplies shall be limited to only those persons with professional access within the recording studios.
In closing, the Ontario regulator has stated that the amendments to the above standards are necessary to address the potential risks associated with the use of physical gaming equipment, particularly with respect to roulette wheels and card tables, as well as those related to “live” casino games.
