What happens if I unknowingly deposit money at a casino that is not registered under Ontario's iGaming framework?

Depositing at an unregistered offshore casino doesn't just mean you're playing outside Ontario's rules — it means you've lost the legal safety net entirely, and the consequences are real.

You have no regulatory recourse

The AGCO has no legal relationship with unregistered igaming operators, which means if a dispute arises over a withheld withdrawal, a closed account, or a game you believe malfunctioned, the regulator simply cannot step in on your behalf. The AGCO is only able to assist players with disputes related to regulated sites. Your only avenue is the offshore operator's own customer service — which, by definition, operates without any obligation to treat you fairly under Ontario law.

Your money and data are exposed

Your payouts could be withheld or delayed and your deposits may not be securely stored. This isn't hypothetical — it's the AGCO's own stated risk. Regulated operators, by contrast, must successfully receive registration by the AGCO and execute an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario, and to complete those steps, they will have met rigorous standards of game integrity, fairness, player protections and social responsibility. None of those standards bind an unregistered site.

Ontario's regulated igaming framework requires operators to meet comprehensive requirements related to game integrity, player protection, anti-money laundering and information privacy. An offshore site skips all of that. Your personal and financial data goes to an entity that has agreed to none of Ontario's privacy obligations.

Responsible-gambling tools don't follow you there

Unregulated gaming sites are not required to provide tools and supports for safer gambling habits. That means deposit limits, session reminders, and self-exclusion tools — all mandatory for registered operators — may simply not exist or be ignored. BetGuard, Ontario's centralized self-exclusion service (betguard.ca), only covers operators within the regulated framework; opting out there does nothing to block access to an offshore site. If you ever need support, ConnexOntario is available at 1-866-531-2600.

How to make sure you're on a legitimate site

The simplest check: look for the iGaming Ontario logo wherever you play as a sign that you're playing on a site that is being conducted and managed by iGaming Ontario, offers player protections and meets Ontario's high standards for game integrity and responsible gambling. Registered sites also display the BetGuard logo. If those logos aren't visible, treat it as a red flag. The definitive source is the iGaming Ontario operator directory at igamingontario.ca — it lists all igaming sites offered by regulated operators contracted by iGaming Ontario and is updated every time a new site offered by a regulated and authorized operator is made available.

If you've already deposited at a site you suspect is unregistered, stop depositing more, attempt to withdraw your balance, and verify the site's status against that directory before playing again. The AGCO's advice is direct: if you are playing on an unregulated site, you are putting yourself at risk and should consider switching — the AGCO recommends that players in Ontario only play on sites offered by operators that are registered and authorized in the province.