What government body actually issues licences to online casinos operating in Ontario?

Two bodies, one market — and they do very different things

Ontario's regulated online casino market is governed by two distinct government bodies, and mixing them up is one of the most common misconceptions players have. The short answer: the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is the regulator that registers operators, and iGaming Ontario (iGO) is the Crown agency that commercially manages the market. You need to understand both to know what "licensed in Ontario" actually means.

The AGCO registers iGaming operators and suppliers, and makes sure they follow the rules. Crucially, Ontario's framework uses the word registration rather than licence — the mechanism is a registration issued by the AGCO's Registrar, not a traditional gaming licence. The AGCO's regulatory framework helps ensure that igaming in Ontario is conducted, managed, and operated with honesty and integrity, and protects the Ontario public and players; Ontario's framework enables the Registrar to consider applications and provide registrations where operators have met the relevant regulatory requirements.

Getting that registration isn't a one-step process. To operate an internet gaming site, you must take steps with both iGaming Ontario and the AGCO. Operators seeking to participate in the Ontario regulated igaming scheme must also enter into a commercial agreement with Ontario's Conduct and Manage entity, iGaming Ontario. In plain terms: the AGCO vets and approves the operator; iGO then signs the commercial operating agreement that actually lets them go live with Ontario players.

What changed in 2025

The structure of the two bodies shifted meaningfully last year. On May 12, 2025, the iGaming Ontario Act was proclaimed into force, continuing iGaming Ontario as a corporation without share capital, and establishing the organization as a stand-alone Crown agency. As of that date, iGO is no longer a subsidiary of the AGCO and reports to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. The regulatory separation is now explicit: the AGCO's role as a regulator is kept separate from iGO's commercial role, and the AGCO continues to be responsible for regulatory oversight of all gaming activities in Ontario, including private igaming operators, suppliers, and iGO itself.

So the AGCO is the regulator that oversees everyone — including iGaming Ontario — while iGO handles the commercial side: operating agreements, revenue reconciliation, and market development. iGO executes operating agreements with private igaming operators, once they have been registered by the AGCO, and oversees contract obligations for the provision of their services in Ontario's regulated igaming scheme.

How to verify a site is legitimate

For Toronto players, the practical takeaway is straightforward. A directory of all fully registered and authorized operators and their igaming sites is available via the iGaming Ontario website — that's the live source of truth, since registrations are added and updated over time. Regulated sites also display both the iGaming Ontario logo and the BetGuard logo; per iGaming Ontario, seeing those logos tells you the site is managed by iGaming Ontario and regulated by the AGCO. BetGuard is also Ontario's centralized self-exclusion service — anyone 19+ can use it at betguard.ca to opt out of all registered operators in a single step, with term options ranging from six months to five years or a custom period.

Companies who successfully enter the Ontario market are required to meet rigorous standards of game and operator integrity, fairness, player protections, and social responsibility. If a site isn't on the iGaming Ontario registry, it isn't operating legally in this market — full stop. If you ever need support, ConnexOntario is reachable at 1-866-531-2600.