Ontario Online Casinos Advertising Standards Key Focus at Summit
According to AGCO CEO Tom Mungham, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario will likely make a judgement within a few weeks, not months, about a proposed modification to the province's Advertising Standards governing the use of celebrities in advertisements for online Ontario casinos.
Mungham was participating in a panel discussion at the Canadian Gaming Summit hosted at the Toronto Metro Convention Centre about the regulated Ontario market one year later. Dave Forestell, the board chair of iGaming Ontario; Martha Otton, the iGaming executive director of the AGCO subsidiary that controls and conducts online gambling in the province; and Doug Downey, the attorney general of Ontario, were also on the panel.
AGCO Still Receives Ontario iGaming Applications
Currently, 47 of the 55 Ontario casino app providers are active. There are 28 further applications waiting to be processed at the AGCO. According to Mungham, the industry is set up for continued and expanded development. There is still much work to be done since everything happens at once. Players seeking to cancel their lost bets via self-excluding during an event that was still active was one of the issues brought to AGCO's notice. The standard was promptly changed to solve the problem, Mungham added.
The Sports Integrity Issue in Ontario
Another difficulty Ontario sportsbooks saw in December was the problem with sports integrity. At the time, UFC betting was briefly suspended due to concerns about suspicious trends. Operators were instructed to cease providing and collecting wagers on the UFC, first in Ontario and later in Alberta. Betting on the MMA juggernaut was resumed in certain markets after an enquiry and adjustments to the UFC's betting rules. Over the previous 14 months, there have also been a few instances of advertising violations, including inducements.
Ad Standards Change Proposed by AGCO
Changes to advertising regulations related to celebrity endorsements are on the horizon. Internet gambling advertising guidelines are being changed, according to the AGCO. Using celebrities and athletes in the promotion of online casinos in Toronto and other parts of the province would be prohibited under these regulations. According to AGCO, the goal is to reduce possible damage to children and other vulnerable groups. Industry participants were encouraged to sign up for AGCO's engagement site in order to voice their views on the suggested improvements.
According to Mungham, there has been no shortage of discussion and opinions about this issue in Canada and throughout the world. It was also noted that AGCO received 38 responses to the consultation from land-based and iGaming operators, the charitable gaming industry, and organisations in the health sector like the Canadian Mental Health Association. Ten additional responses were received from municipalities and community organisations, and he added that discussion will follow shortly.
Top Ontario Online Casinos in 2024
With the constant improvements and developments taking place in the Canadian online gambling industry, there has never been a better time to play online. Players in Ontario have access to some of the safest and most secure gaming establishments in the country, providing excellent promotions and bonuses, a wide variety of trusted and reliable payment options and tons of exciting games that can be enjoyed on both desktop and mobile devices. Below, we've included our Top 5 online casinos in Ontario that are sure to provide hours of entertainment from the comfort of your own home.
- Jackpot City Casino: Newly registered customers can look forward to $1,600 in bonuses spread across the first 4 deposits after signing up for a new account on desktop or mobile devices. The operator comes equipped with more than 700 games from Microgaming and is eCOGRA certified to provide a safe and secure gaming experience on both desktop and mobile devices. To find out more, make sure to read our Jackpot City Casino review before signing up for a new account in 2024.
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- Spin Casino: If you are searching for a legitimate operator that provides 24/7 customer support, payments in Canadian dollars, advanced SSL-encryption technology and mobile compatibility, you can't go wrong with Spin Casino. Established in 2001, players can claim up to $1,000 in bonuses spread across their first 3 deposits along with plenty of ongoing promotions while playing an assortment of top-tier games supplied by Microgaming. Visit our Spin Casino review section to learn everything about this world-class brand in 2024.
- BetMGM Casino: Sign up with BetMGM Casino and treat yourself to a $100 casino bonus along with 100% match bonus up to $3,000 on your first deposit. The online platform also provides a comprehensive sportsbook section where you can place bets on a wide variety of sporting events on both desktop and mobile devices. There are even live dealer games to provide a more immersive betting experience. Players in Ontario will also find a plethora of banking methods, 24/7 customer support, top games from iSoftBet and more. Read our BetMGM Casino review if you are interested in playing at this top brand.
- Gaming Club Casino: Players searching for an excellent loyalty program coupled with a large selection of games won't be disappointed at Gaming Club Casino. The online operator also comes fitted with live chat support, loads of trusted banking methods and multiple currencies and languages. Newcomers will be treated to a 100% match up to $350 across their first 2 deposits as well as regular ongoing promotions on a weekly and monthly basis. Take a look at our Gaming Club Casino review to find out more!
Agenda for the Second Year in Ontario
Enquiries were made of the regulators on their particular projects for the market's second year of operation. Mungham said, "This last year has been about converting the grey market and finishing that cycle. We've gone through a huge startup period coming up to April 2022. Most of our current efforts will be directed on processing applications and compliance work. We'll keep putting in a lot of effort towards that channelization task."
In other words, the fight to eradicate black market activities in the province will now take precedence over the enforcement of AGCO regulations. Mungham said that he had written to foreign authorities who were aiding and accrediting uncontrolled businesses in Ontario. Most of the response has been favourable, although some regulators have been unresponsive. One of his primary aims is to get Ontario's black market operators out of business. A centralised self-exclusion responsible gaming programme, which Otton claims would be the "first of its kind," is one of the regulators' other objectives. This implies that if a prospective gambler self-excludes from one licenced online casino in Ontario, they will also be barred from all other licenced companies in the territory.
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