We're only a few weeks away from receiving a ruling from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario about a possible update to the province's advertising guidelines, particularly regarding the involvement of celebrities in promotions.Ontario online casinos .
This information comes from Tom Mungham, the Chief Executive Officer of the AGCO, the governing authority in the province.
Mungham expressed these insights during a panel discussion at the Canadian Gaming Summit, which took place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, focusing on the development of the regulated Ontario gaming market after its first year.
The panel also included notable figures such as Martha Otton, the executive director of iGaming Ontario (a branch of the AGCO responsible for overseeing online gaming in the region); Dave Forestell, chair of the board for iGaming Ontario; and Doug Downey, Ontario's attorney general.
AGCO Continues to Process iGaming Applications in Ontario
There are 55 registeredOntario casino apps Currently, there are 47 operators active in the market, with an additional 28 applications pending at the AGCO, according to Mungham.
"The industry is set for even more significant expansion,\" he stated. \"There's still much that needs to be addressed. We didn’t get everything right from the start.\"
A notable issue faced by the AGCO involves players attempting to rescind their losing wagers by self-excluding while events are still ongoing. Mungham mentioned that regulations were quickly adjusted to tackle this concern.
Ontario Addressed Concerns About Sports Integrity
The sports integrity issue thatOntario sportsbooks In December, a significant challenge arose when betting on UFC events was temporarily halted due to suspicious betting patterns.
Initially, operators in Ontario and Alberta were instructed to cease all wagering on UFC events. Following an investigation and subsequent updates to their betting policies, the UFC resumed wagering in those areas. Additionally, there were several advertising violations related to inducements throughout the past 14 months.
AGCO Suggesting Revisions to Advertising Standards
The potential modification of advertising standards concerning celebrity endorsements is a pressing issue. The AGCO is suggesting changes to the guidelines for online gambling advertisements which would restrict the use of athletes and other public figures in promotional materials for online casinos throughout Toronto and the province at large. The aim, according to the AGCO, is to reduce possible harm to young individuals and at-risk populations.
Industry participants were encouraged to register with the AGCO's engagement platform to provide feedback on the proposed modifications.
"There's been a considerable amount of dialogue and input regarding this matter both in Canada and internationally,\" remarked Mungham, noting that the AGCO had received 38 responses regarding this consultation from both iGaming and land-based operators, the charitable gaming sector, and health organizations like the Canadian Mental Health Association. Moreover, they gathered an additional 10 responses from community organizations and local government bodies.
"We will be reaching out to you soon to discuss this further,\" he added.
Keep checkingOntarioBets for the bestOntario sports betting apps as well as continuing news coverage.
