Everything you need to know to be ready for the launch of iGaming in Ontario, Canada

What is iGaming Ontario?

iGaming Ontario, working alongside the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and the Government of Ontario, are creating a regulated, online gaming market that will promote responsible gambling in Ontario, Canada.

Led by four main objectives; consumer choice, consumer protection, legal market growth and provincial returns, and reduced red tape, iGaming Ontario are aspiring to provide the best online experience in the safest environment for players in Ontario.

What does this mean for Operators?

As with an MGA or UKGC licence, operators will be required to undertake know your customer (KYC) identity verification and adhere to anti-money laundering (AML) requirements at the point of registration i.e. a player creating a new account.

Know your customer

As part of an Ontario licence, operators can implement the following methods of identity verification:

Credit file

This player verification must be from a Canadian credit bureau that has been in existence for at least three years with the information coming from more than one source. Name, address and date of birth must match in order to pass. The person’s name, credit file number, name of the bureau or third-party vendor and date of the credit file search must all be recorded and retained.

Dual source

All information gathered as part of the operator’s KYC checks must be from two different sources. A combination of name and address, name and date of birth or name and confirmation of a financial account must be matched.

Document Verification

This must be a current, authentic government issued document. The name and photograph must match what has been presented upon registration, and the following information must be recorded and retained: name, document type, document number, province/state and country of issue, expiry date and the date of verification.

Anti-Money Laundering

In order to support AML compliance, operators will be required to carry out traditional PEP, sanction and adverse media checks while conducting monthly ongoing monitoring for any change in the player’s circumstances.

All player information must be kept up to date and an annual reminder sent to the player to review and update their information.

What might a player onboarding flow look like?

Every operator will have an onboarding flow that aligns with their risk-based approach and specific licence.

Below is an example of what an onboarding and verification flow might look like for the new iGaming Ontario licence. In this example, we have used the credit file verification as a starting point, with dual source and document verification checks in place, if a previous check fails.

Applying for your Ontario licence?

If you are an operator seeking an iGaming Ontario licence, we can help with our Canadian, FINTRAC-compliant identity verification solution.

“We are excited to be supporting operators applying for the Ontario iGaming license. We have been working with operators who transact in Canada for many years including state-owned Atlantic Lottery and it is great to see the new regulator putting player’s safety at the core.” Rebekah Jackson, Business Development Director, GBG.