Online Gambling Regulations and Laws in Ontario

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Published: September 24, 2024
Updated: April 1, 2026

No matter where in the world you find yourself, there are always some forms of gambling you can enjoy off- and online. In Canada, there are friendly people to meet and lots of gambling activities and entertainment to enjoy, especially in Ontario.

Gambling in Canada

Gambling has become an integral part of Canadian community life. The Canadians seem to have even adopted a couple of luck-based beliefs from other regions (despite the very few local superstitions and traditions).

Canadians cross their fingers as a sign of good luck and prefer entering through the side or back entrances, as the main entrance is believed to bring bad luck.
They also believe in the luck brought on by horseshoes, certain jewellery pieces, and rabbit feet.

Gambling Regulations Ontario — Gambling regulations and laws in Ontario

In 2022, Ontario became a regulated gambling market in Canada. Since its launch, Ontario's market has grown immensely and we cannot miss to delve into details about the regulations in online casinos in Ontario!

History of gambling in Ontario

Before you can embrace the new, you need to be aware of the past. Gaming has been a part of the region for hundreds of years.

In fact, according to the history retellings, it dates back to the Indigenous people in Canada. They had a long history of playing games like Slahal (the Stick game), which is popular to this day.
During the Colonial Era, by the 1830s, Canadians also saw other forms of gambling introduced by European settlers. One of these was horse racing, which became quite popular.
This led to the opening of the Elora race track in 1833, which became Ontario’s first permanent legal gambling enterprise.
Things haven’t always been smooth sailing with online gambling. During the 19th and 20th centuries, we saw big changes. The Criminal Code (1892) banned most of gambling except horse racing and games that gave to charities (bingo or raffles).
In 1975, Ontario launched its first official lottery, which, in many ways, was the first big positive shift.

From there, the first commercial casino opened its doors in Ontario in 1993. And in 2022, Ontario became the first province to legalise online gambling. This made it one of North America's largest iGaming markets.

Significant dates in history like these have established Ontario as a leader in the Canadian gambling market.

The role of lotteries in the gambling culture

Lotteries had a huge role in forming and legalising gambling in Canada. They helped raise funds for charities and paved the way for public trust and acceptance of gambling as a legitimate activity.

Of course, gambling also had a big impact on the economy. Many of the funds that came from gambling were used for public services (like infrastructure, healthcare, and education).

In many ways, lotteries normalised and served as a gateway for all other forms of gambling. They also helped with:

They encouraged the feeling of community involvement and excitement.
They have been among the biggest fighters and promotions for responsible gaming practices.
At the end of the day, lotteries are a key factor in legalising online gambling.

Current regulations in Ontario

The gambling market in Ontario officially launched on April 4, 2022. The industry is regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and iGaming Ontario (iGO).

Casinos have to get a license from those two before they can offer their services in the region. The role of AGCO and iGO is also to make sure that operators stick to their standards and rules and keep the games fair and player protected.

The law also clearly states that the regulated sites must meet the security requirements, including adding measures that protect player details and accounts. There also have to be effective rules for responsible gambling and protecting any minors or vulnerable players from falling into a gambling problem. These include educational campaigns, a centralised self-exclusion tool, and accreditation through the local RG Check program.

Types of legal gambling options in Ontario

There are a couple of legal and licensed gambling forms you can take part in during your time in Ontario, Canada. This includes:

Online Casinos – Access to online slots and table games (like Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat).
Poker – Poker is not just a small fish in the online gambling pond. There are also legal cash games and tournaments you can participate in.
Lottery Games – There’s access to a wide range of traditional lottery games which you can participate in online and offline.
Bingo – Another instant win type of game activity you can legally enjoy here.

Is sports betting legal in Ontario?

Yes, sports betting is available and legal in Ontario. Sportsbooks must follow similar rules to those of online casinos and lotteries. They include:

Licensing from AGCO and iGaming Ontario
An age limit of 19 or older. No players under this age are allowed to participate.
The types of bets available include pre-match and live betting options, along with single-event and parlay bets.
They are also required to add responsible gambling tools to help with safe gameplay, implement limits, and opt for exclusion.
Advertising shouldn't mislead or attract minors.

A big benefit of this regulated market is that strict measures are implemented in an effort to prevent match-fixing and allow for betting on sports events of integrity.

Is gambling taxable in Ontario?

No, you don't have to pay taxes on your online casino winnings. This includes winnings on sports betting, horse racing, lotteries and casino games.

So, your gambling winnings can be withdrawn without any added tax fees.

Casino operators, on the other hand, are required to share 20% of their revenue with officials as per the regulations. While it is a lot lower than the 55% land-based casino venues are expected to pay, it’s still quite a lot.

The good news is that regulated online casinos help bring in quite a large amount of revenue for Ontario.

Is online gambling legal in Ontario?

Online gambling became legal in Ontario in April 2022. Now, players in the region don’t have to travel far or wide (or search for offshore sites) for betting entertainment.

If you’re unsure of where to play, it’s always recommended to stick to sites licensed by Ontario or other reputable legislation. They are the ones to offer you protection and care about your gameplay.

The licensed and regulated platforms will all carry the iGaming Ontario logo at the bottom of the homepage or anywhere on the screen. They have an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario and can offer regulated games and betting platforms to all Ontarian players based in the region and above 19 years old.

AGCO has awarded licenses to over 45 operators and 80 websites deemed the highest quality and offering gaming at the highest standards.

An Ipsos survey from 2023 also showed that over 85% of Ontario online gamblers play on regulated platforms, which is quite a big improvement considering that around 70% chose unregulated platforms before.

The future of gambling in Ontario

The online gaming market in Ontario has made room for lots of improvements and competition among online gaming brands. According to the trends, most bets are placed at the top five casinos.

2025 was another record-breaking year for the Ontarian market. Players bet over $73.3 billion in wagers, as per data from iGaming Ontario.

One of the biggest focuses for Ontario is to keep the focus on local, licensed platforms that offer a quality game selection in a secure environment. This includes limiting advertisements and the content that can be made available on these platforms.

It looks like a winning formula for them! But the plan is to further implement technological advancements and expand the immersive experiences the platforms have to offer as they try to focus on authentic and original offers.