• AGCO announced that it had contacted various traditional and digital media
• The reason is the regulator’s warning to these platforms not to advertise offshore gambling
• One specific website was singled out as an example

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has reached out to dozens of traditional and digital media platforms, the regulator said in an official statement on its website, asking these companies to desist from advertising gambling companies that do not hold a license in the province but may be attempting to target local residents.

AGCO keen to restrict access of offshore gambling sites to market

This is part of a broader move by the watchdog to try and limit the access of offshore gambling sites. Once allowed in Ontario in the absence of a regulated gambling market, these websites are now no longer welcome as the majority have in fact chosen to obtain a license and operate as regulated entities locally.

However, some may still choose to use old practices and try to engage with customers by simply flooding various media channels, attempting to convert players who may be interested in online casinos or sports betting to visit their platforms. Notably, AGCO mentioned Bodog, a company that it says is breaching the Gaming Control Act, 1992.

Commenting on the latest development, Dr Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar at the regulator, said that the regulated iGaming market is already online and should be the only option for local players.

"The AGCO is committed to protecting Ontario players and ensuring they have the safest experience by playing on regulated igaming sites. By refusing to carry advertising from unregulated and high-risk operators like Bodog, media organizations can exemplify social responsibility and play an important role in protecting Ontarians and supporting Ontario’s regulated market," Schnatt clarified seeking to highlight the bad influence that such operators can have.

In the case of Bodog, according to AGCO, the website is still targeting players in Ontario through advertising and allowing players from the province to join. AGCO has acknowledged that this was not a mass practice for the company, as Bodog has already taken steps to restrict and eliminate access from Nova Scotia and Quebec, with the regulator now urging the company to do the same in Ontario.

Regulator continues to enforce market rules

However, in the meantime, AGCO has said that the onus is on advertisers to ensure that they are not promoting an unregulated website.

The regulator similarly said that since the market has been regulated since 2022, operators are required to comply with strict rules of conduct and stick to clear-cut player protection guardrails, something that may not be the case with an offshore brand that is not beholden to AGCO’s statutes.

Recently, AGCO fined three land-based casino sites owned by Great Canadian Entertainment. The regulator alleged that minors were allowed to access the gaming floors and, in some cases, play, issuing a CA$151,000 fine.

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