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License Cost

$100,000 CAD annual fee per site; additional costs for technical certification and audits ($10,000–$100,000 CAD range possible)

Annual Fees

$100,000 CAD per year, per domain registration

Income Taxes

Subject to Canadian federal and Ontario corporate tax rates

Player Winnings Taxes

No withholding tax on player winnings by operators

Financial Guarantees

No specific bank guarantee mandated but may be requested case-by-case

Liquidity Requirements

Not specifically required by regulation, but operator must demonstrate financial capacity

Financial Reporting Requirements

Ongoing submissions; format and deadlines per AGCO guidance

Application Processing Time

Several months; depends on application completeness and background checks

Required Documents

Corporate records, ownership structure, compliance policies, business plan, technical certifications, internal controls documentation

Business Plan Requirements

Detailed business plan mandatory

Internal Policy Requirements

AML, KYC, responsible gambling, and data protection policies required

Testing Requirements

Independent testing of software, platform, and RNGs

Certification Requirements

All platform and games must be certified by accredited third-party labs

Staff Qualifications

Key staff must meet suitability and integrity standards

Physical Office Requirements

No strict mandate for physical office in Ontario

Local Representative Requirements

Not specifically required

Marketing Restrictions

Responsible gambling messaging required; advertising must comply with responsible gaming standards; marketing to minors prohibited

Responsible Gaming Measures

Operator must have responsible gambling accreditation (e.g., RG Check), offer self-exclusion, deposit/wager/time controls, and player support access

Self-Exclusion System

Centralized, Ontario-wide self-exclusion system required

Age Verification Procedures

Robust age verification for all new accounts; must ensure all players are 19+

KYC Procedures

Strict KYC and due diligence during player registration and withdrawals

Customer Support Standards

English support mandatory; procedures for handling and escalating complaints

Complaint Handling Procedures

Documented process for player grievances; complaints handled per regulatory procedure

Player Funds Protection

Player funds must be segregated; systems to prevent commingling with operational funds

Payout Timelines

Not publicly mandated; expected to be prompt and defined in operator T&Cs

Bonus and Promotion Regulations

Promotions must comply with responsible gambling rules; clear T&Cs mandatory

Permitted Games List

Casino games, sportsbooks, poker, and approved lottery-style games; illegal/unlicensed games prohibited

Betting Limits

Operator-defined, subject to responsible gambling oversight

RTP Requirements

Minimum RTP not publicly specified; game fairness tested in certification process

Jackpot Regulations

Progressive jackpots permitted; must comply with transparency and player safety standards

Live Game Requirements

Permitted if games and suppliers certified

Mobile App Compliance

Mobile platforms must comply with same regulatory and technical standards as desktop

Affiliate Program Rules

Permitted; affiliates subject to regulatory rules and oversight

Security Standards

Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming demand strict risk management and information security; industry best practices enforced

Encryption Requirements

SSL/TLS encryption mandatory for all player data in transit and at rest

Backup Requirements

Regular data backups must be maintained as per security policy

Monitoring Systems

Continuous system monitoring; audit logs required

Operation Logging

All operations, transactions, and system changes must be logged

Anti-Fraud Systems

Fraud prevention tools and monitoring required by regulation

API Integration Standards

All APIs must meet security, audit, and data protection standards

Hosting Requirements

No strict requirement for Ontario-based servers; access control and auditability required

CDN Usage

Permitted if content delivery meets security and regulatory requirements

Scalability Requirements

Systems must handle peak player loads; technical performance benchmarked

Uptime Requirements

Not publicly mandated; operators expected to meet industry standards for service availability

Technical Support Availability

24/7 technical support strongly recommended, not strictly mandated

License Duration

Ongoing, subject to annual renewal and compliance review

Renewal Procedure

Annual renewal with confirmation of continued compliance and payment of renewal fee

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Fines, suspension, or license revocation; penalties scale by severity of violation

Ownership Change Rules

Any change in control or ownership requires regulatory notification and approval

Mergers and Acquisitions Rules

Mergers, acquisitions, or restructurings must be notified to, and approved by, AGCO

Subcontractor Regulations

Key suppliers must be registered and comply with regulatory standards

Branding Requirements

Responsible gambling logos/messages must be displayed; use of regulatory authority branding must be approved

Intellectual Property Protection

Software/content IP must be properly licensed; piracy or infringement prohibited

Dispute Arbitration

Ontario courts primary jurisdiction; arbitration possible where specified in agreement

Insurance Requirements

Not strictly specified; liability insurance recommended for operators

Social Responsibility Programs

Participation in research and player protection programs mandatory

Charity Contributions

Not mandatory

Staff Training Requirements

Responsible gambling, AML, and compliance training mandatory and recurring

Innovation Support

No formal regulatory sandbox but innovation encouraged within compliance framework

Sustainability Initiatives

Not mandated

Accessibility Standards

General web accessibility and fair player access recommended

Multilingual Support

English required; additional languages encouraged for player support

Cryptocurrency Support

Not permitted under current standards

Esports Betting Regulations

Permitted under licensed sportsbook offerings if games approved

Fantasy Sports Regulations

Permitted if operated in compliance with regulator’s standards

Social Gaming Regulations

Real-money social gaming regulated under standard iGaming provisions

Official Address

90 Sheppard Avenue East, Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario M2N 0A4, Canada

Fax Number

(416) 326-5555

Online Application Portal

https://www.agco.ca/en/iagco

Work Hours

Monday to Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm Eastern Time

Facebook URL

https://www.facebook.com/AGCOnews

Twitter/X URL

https://twitter.com/AGCOhelp

YouTube URL

https://www.youtube.com/@AGCOvideo

Departments

iGaming Compliance, Licensing and Registration, Regulatory Policy and Standards, Investigations and Enforcement, Corporate Services

FAQ Question 1

What is AGCO iGaming Operator Registration?

FAQ Answer 1

The AGCO iGaming Operator Registration is a government-issued authorization that allows gambling operators to legally offer online gaming in Ontario under strict regulatory standards.

FAQ Question 2

Which jurisdiction issues AGCO iGaming Operator Registration?

FAQ Answer 2

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), an Ontario government regulatory authority, issues and regulates iGaming operator registrations in Ontario, Canada.

FAQ Question 3

What is the cost of obtaining AGCO iGaming Operator Registration?

FAQ Answer 3

The annual regulatory fee is $100,000 CAD per domain, with additional costs for software certification and technical audits, which can collectively range from $10,000 to $100,000 CAD.

FAQ Question 4

What are the main requirements for AGCO iGaming Operator Registration?

FAQ Answer 4

Key requirements include registration as a legal entity, strict AML and KYC compliance, certified gaming software and RNGs, responsible gambling accreditation, player fund segregation, technical audits, continuous reporting, and ongoing adherence to regulatory standards