What types of online gambling products are legally permitted under Ontario's iGaming licensing framework?

Ontario's regulated igaming framework — built on the AGCO's Registrar's Standards for Internet Gaming and operated through iGaming Ontario — covers a broader range of product types than most players realize. Here's how the permitted categories break down.

Casino games, poker, and bingo

The casino category, which includes slots, live and computer-based table games, and peer-to-peer bingo, is the largest segment by wagers in the Ontario market. That means everything from video slots and RNG table games to live-dealer blackjack, roulette, and baccarat streamed in real time all fall squarely within the framework. Online casino products continue to be the most popular igaming choice for players, followed by sports betting and peer-to-peer poker.

Peer-to-peer poker — where players compete against each other rather than the house — is its own distinct permitted category. At more than $1.5 billion in total wagering, peer-to-peer poker may be the smallest of the three major igaming segments, but Ontario has become the largest ring-fenced online poker market by gaming revenue in North America. The "ring-fenced" part matters: Ontario players can only participate in games with other players located in Ontario.

Sports betting and its sub-categories

The AGCO's standards apply to all sports, esports, novelty, betting exchange, and fantasy sports products, and include various bet types such as single-event, in-game, pool, parlay, and exchange bets. That's a wide net — single-event wagering (legal federally since 2021), live in-play betting, parlays, and esports all sit within the regulated tent.

Pay-to-play daily fantasy sports deserve a specific mention because their status surprises some Toronto players. In Ontario, pay-to-play fantasy sports are considered to be a form of gambling under the Criminal Code of Canada, and are permitted under the AGCO's internet gaming standards. Choosing whether or not to offer pay-to-play fantasy sports is an individual business decision that rests with registered operators — so availability varies by site.

One product type that does not fall under sport and event betting: virtual sports are not classified as a type of sport and event betting under the standards, so they're governed differently within the casino product rules.

Who can offer these products, and how to confirm a site is legitimate

Being a fully registered and authorized operator means the organization has successfully received AGCO registration and, with the exception of OLG.ca, has executed an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario — a process that requires meeting rigorous standards of game integrity, fairness, player protections, and social responsibility. OLG.ca sits alongside private operators but operates under its own distinct Crown mandate.

For Toronto players, the practical check is simple: every internet gaming website offered by a fully registered and approved operator in Ontario will display both the iGaming Ontario and BetGuard logos — seeing these tells you the site is managed by iGaming Ontario and regulated by the AGCO. The full, current list of registered operators is maintained at the iGaming Ontario operator directory; that's the live source of truth, since the registry is updated whenever new sites launch.

One practical note: you must be physically located in Ontario to play — geolocation checks are mandatory — and the legal age province-wide is 19+. If gambling ever becomes a concern rather than entertainment, ConnexOntario (1-866-531-2600) connects you to support, and BetGuard (betguard.ca) lets you self-exclude from every regulated Ontario site in a single step.