Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario | Licenses, Player Protections, and Appeal Process

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, usually shortened to AGCO, is the main regulator behind Ontario’s online betting market. It is responsible for registering operators and suppliers, enforcing Ontario’s Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming, and overseeing compliance across the province’s regulated market. While iGaming Ontario (iGO) plays a separate role by contracting with private operators so they can legally offer betting and casino products in the province, AGCO is the body that sets the regulatory standards players rely on for safety, integrity, and consumer protection.

For Canadian bettors, that distinction can be a bit confusing. A site is not part of Ontario’s regulated market simply because it is well known or available in Canada. To legally operate in Ontario’s private market, an operator must be registered with AGCO and must also offer its site through an agreement with iGaming Ontario. That structure gives Ontario one of the clearest regulated frameworks in Canada, with stronger rules around responsible gambling, game integrity, complaints handling, and advertising than players are likely to find on unregulated offshore sites.

Looking for a full breakdown of every sportsbook available in Ontario? We’ve already created a complete list of Ontario betting sites that covers all operators currently active in the province’s regulated market. That guide is the best place to compare your options at a glance, while the section below focuses more specifically on the individual operators and the brands operating within the AGCO's regulatory framework.

Ontario’s regulated market is built around AGCO’s Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming, which came into force when the market launched on April 4, 2022. These standards are designed to create a safer online betting environment by setting rules for operator conduct, game integrity, responsible gambling, and consumer protection.

For players, that means regulated Ontario sites are expected to meet standards around areas such as age restrictions, identity controls, responsible gambling safeguards, game fairness, and operational integrity. The AGCO also continues to refine the framework over time. For example, in 2026 it announced standards for a centralized self-exclusion program, which will allow players to voluntarily exclude themselves across all regulated Ontario igaming sites through one system rather than site by site.

Ontario also places stronger emphasis on identifying and supporting players at risk of gambling harm. AGCO has published guidance for operators on identifying risky behaviour and supporting vulnerable players, and iGaming Ontario directs players toward regulated sites specifically because those sites are expected to meet Ontario’s standards for game integrity and player protections.

Key Standards of The AGCO:

• 19+ age restrictions
• Responsible gambling tools
• Stronger standards for game integrity and operator conduct
• Guidance for identifying and supporting players at risk of harm
• A regulated complaints pathway for disputes 

Yes, but there is an important limit. Players with disputes involving a regulated Ontario site are generally expected to first use the operator’s own complaint process. iGaming Ontario says that most disputes will be resolved by following the customer dispute process of the regulated gaming site first. If the issue remains unresolved or is handled unsatisfactorily, players may then escalate the matter to iGaming Ontario for review.

At the same time, iGaming Ontario makes clear that it cannot directly settle bets, refund wagers, or award compensation. In other words, Ontario offers players a much more formal escalation path than many offshore jurisdictions, but neither iGO nor AGCO acts like a court that simply overturns sportsbook decisions on demand. Matters involving criminal or regulatory concerns may also be referred to the appropriate authorities.

Where the issue is broader and not just a site-specific player dispute, Ontario also provides a route to submit complaints through iAGCO. iGaming Ontario notes that complaints relating to topics such as responsible gambling, suspected illegal activity, or advertising may be submitted to the AGCO through that system, including in cases where contacting the operator first may not be appropriate.

If you've ensured the site you have issue with holds a permit from the AGCO, followed through with a formal complaint through the site in question, and still wish to escalate directly to the AGCO, you will then need to fill out the contact form and provide as much information in detail.