How does the licensing process ensure that Ontario online casino games meet minimum fairness standards?

Game fairness in Ontario's regulated online market isn't left to operator self-reporting — it runs through a layered chain of technical testing, independent certification, and ongoing regulatory oversight that starts before a single game goes live and continues throughout an operator's time in the market.

The standards that define "fair"

The Registrar's Standards for Internet Gaming came into force on April 4, 2022 when Ontario's new igaming market launched. The AGCO (Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario) is the author and enforcer of these standards. They govern the conduct, management and operation of online gaming sites, lottery schemes, and related businesses. The model shifts focus from prescriptive rule-following toward broader regulatory outcomes that operators are expected to achieve — which gives operators some flexibility in how they comply, but not in whether they comply.

One of the AGCO's explicitly named regulatory outcomes is game integrity: ensuring games operate as designed and are fair to players. That's the stated goal; what follows is how it's actually enforced.

Independent testing labs and RNG certification

The technical core of fairness enforcement is the Independent Testing Lab (ITL) system. An ITL certification is written assurance issued by registered independent test laboratories to confirm that technology meets the relevant AGCO Registrar's Standards for Internet Gaming. Critically, ITL certifications for Ontario's igaming market can only be issued by ITLs that are registered by the AGCO, and that certification provides the AGCO with reasonable assurance that the technology being tested complies with the relevant Standards.

What exactly gets tested? All games, random number generators, and components of igaming systems that accept, process, determine outcome, display, and log details about player bets. The AGCO's own Gaming Lab goes further still. Its assessments include mathematical simulations to verify theoretical payback and award odds, and statistical analysis of data sets with millions of data points to verify the randomness of RNGs. This work is performed by a team of experts in an in-house lab accredited to ISO 17025:2017, which is considered the international benchmark for excellence in testing laboratories.

A key technical requirement: the RNG result must be the only result used to determine game outcome — no other routines may exist that modify the outcome or bypass the RNG result. That's a hard prohibition on any back-door manipulation of results.

Certification isn't a one-and-done exercise either. Recertification is required when any modification or subsequent discovery of an undetected issue impacts critical gaming system integrity, fairness, or security.

What operators must do before and after launch

Private gaming operators must successfully register with the AGCO and execute an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario before they may begin offering their games to players in Ontario. During the application process, operators must confirm they will comply with the Registrar's Standards, and must also submit an analysis identifying any gaps in their platforms, products, or processes — along with a plan for how those gaps will be addressed.

After launch, accountability continues. All operators must submit an independently audited document — commonly called a Control Activity Matrix (CAM) — setting out the processes and controls they have in place to meet all outcomes in the Registrar's Standards. Within six months of commencing operations, operators must also provide a live demonstration of those controls, with emphasis on key compliance priority areas defined in advance.

Ongoing monitoring and enforcement

Registration doesn't mean the scrutiny stops. The AGCO monitors igaming operators, suppliers, and digital game offerings for compliance with regulatory obligations, including the Registrar's Standards for Internet Gaming. Regulatory complaints and inquiries — including those related to game integrity and fairness — are addressed through this oversight process. Where problems are found, the AGCO can bring operators and suppliers back into compliance through progressive sanctions, including warnings, suspensions, monetary penalties, and in the most serious cases, revocations.

How Toronto players can verify they're on a regulated site

Being a fully registered and authorized operator in Ontario's igaming market means the organization has successfully received AGCO registration and executed an operating agreement with iGO — and to complete those steps, they will have met rigorous standards of game integrity, fairness, player protections, and social responsibility. You can confirm a site belongs to this group by checking the iGaming Ontario operator registry at igamingontario.ca, and by looking for both the iGaming Ontario and BetGuard logos displayed on the site — their presence signals the site is regulated by the AGCO and managed by iGaming Ontario.

If you ever need support around your gambling, ConnexOntario is available at 1-866-531-2600. Ontario's legal gambling age is 19+.