AGCO licence: what it means, how to check it, licensed casinos
Ontario's regulator for gaming, alcohol, cannabis and horse racing; it registers and supervises the online operators that contract with iGaming Ontario.
Casinos with a page
2
Hunts tracked there
0
Accept crypto
–
Founded
1998
About the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario was established on 23 February 1998 and now operates under the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario Act, 2019. It is an arm's-length provincial agency reporting to Ontario's Ministry of the Attorney General, and it regulates alcohol, cannabis, horse racing and gaming in the province.
Ontario opened its regulated online gambling market to private operators on 4 April 2022. Two bodies share the work. The AGCO is the regulator: it sets the Registrar's Standards for Internet Gaming, registers operators and suppliers, and monitors compliance. iGaming Ontario conducts and manages online gaming under Canada's Criminal Code by signing operating agreements with registered operators. iGaming Ontario was set up in July 2021 as an AGCO subsidiary and became an independent agency on 12 May 2025.
For players, a regulated Ontario site must meet the AGCO standards on age checks (19 and over), game fairness, privacy, anti-money laundering and responsible gambling. Operators must offer spend and time limits and self-exclusion, and since May 2026 one BetGuard registration blocks all regulated sites. Disputes go to the operator first and then to the AGCO, which can penalise operators but cannot get money back for players.
To check a site, use iGaming Ontario's directory of regulated operators and websites, and look for the iGaming Ontario and BetGuard logos on the site itself. A site missing from the directory has most likely stopped operating in Ontario's regulated market.
Recent changes
28 February 2024: ban on athletes, and on celebrities and influencers likely to appeal to minors, in igaming advertising took effect. 12 May 2025: iGaming Ontario became an independent provincial agency, no longer a subsidiary of the AGCO. 14 May 2026: the BetGuard centralised self-exclusion programme launched, backed by a new AGCO standard (2.14.1).
AGCO licence facts
| Country | Canada (Ontario) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1998 |
| Law | Gaming Control Act, 1992 and Ontario Regulation 78/12, with the Registrar's Standards for Internet Gaming |
| Licenses | online casino, online sports and event betting, online poker, online bingo, betting exchange, land-based gaming, horse racing, alcohol and cannabis licensing |
| Licence types | Internet gaming operator registration, Gaming-related supplier registration |
| Market | Registers operators serving players in Ontario only; iGaming Ontario contracts with them to offer games to Ontario residents aged 19 and over |
| Self-exclusion | BetGuard: centralised self-exclusion from all regulated online gambling sites in Ontario, run by iGaming Ontario since 14 May 2026 |
| Player protection | Players must be 19 or older. Operators must offer spend-limit and time-limit tools, a short break option and longer-term self-exclusion. Centralised self-exclusion through BetGuard covers all regulated sites (since 14 May 2026). Public advertising of bonuses, credits and other inducements is banned; they may only be shown on the operator's site or sent to players who have consented. Active and retired athletes may not appear in igaming advertising except to promote responsible gambling (since 28 February 2024). |
| Complaints | File a formal complaint with the operator first; it can take up to 90 days to decide. If unresolved, submit a complaint to the AGCO through the iAGCO portal (no account needed). Complaints about responsible gambling, suspected illegal activity or advertising can go straight to the AGCO. The AGCO checks rule breaches but cannot recover money. |
| Licence register | igamingontario.ca/en/operator/operators |
| Website | www.agco.ca |
Casinos with a AGCO licence
Casinos with a CasinoHub page that list this licence, most hunted first.
AGCO licence FAQ
How do I check if an online casino is regulated in Ontario?
Search iGaming Ontario's operator directory at igamingontario.ca, which lists every regulated operator and website. Regulated sites also show the iGaming Ontario and BetGuard logos.
What is the difference between the AGCO and iGaming Ontario?
The AGCO is the regulator. It writes the standards, registers operators and suppliers, and enforces the rules. iGaming Ontario conducts and manages online gaming by contracting with those registered operators, and it has been an independent agency since 12 May 2025.
When did Ontario's regulated online gambling market open?
On 4 April 2022, when private operators could first offer online gambling in Ontario under the AGCO's Registrar's Standards for Internet Gaming.
How do I complain about an Ontario-regulated operator?
File a formal complaint with the operator and note the reference number. If it is not resolved within 90 days, or you disagree with the outcome, submit a complaint to the AGCO through iAGCO. Responsible gambling, illegal activity and advertising complaints can go straight to the AGCO.
What is BetGuard?
BetGuard is Ontario's centralised self-exclusion programme, launched on 14 May 2026 and run by iGaming Ontario. One registration excludes you from all regulated online gambling sites in the province.
How old do you have to be to gamble online in Ontario?
19 or older for all internet gaming conducted and managed by iGaming Ontario.
Which casinos on CasinoHub hold a AGCO licence?
2 casinos with a CasinoHub page list a AGCO licence, including Bet365, Betano. Each casino page shows the licence details we checked.
Other gambling regulators
Researched by Konrad van Daath, checked 7 November 2026. Facts come from public sources (agco.ca, igamingontario.ca). Always confirm a licence in the regulator's own register. Gambling is for adults only and can be addictive; play responsibly.
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