iGaming Ontario to Separate from AGCO

Ontario’s government has introduced a measure that will see iGaming Ontario (iGO) become a standalone agency independent of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).

Since iGaming launched in Ontario in April of 2022, the industry has been regulated by the AGCO with iGO working as a subsidiary governing the online gambling industry.

Bill 216,he Building Ontario For You Act, 2014, has a newly added Schedule 9 which allows for iGO to sever ties with the AGCO. The main aim of the elimination of the parent-subsidiary partnership is to address a conflict of interest issue that was first noted by Ontario’s Auditor General.

Bill 216 advanced through its first and third readings on November 6 and received Royal Assent on the same day. According to a representative from the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General, the iGaming Ontario Act is scheduled to come into effect in early 2025.

“Once proclaimed, the Act would also dissolve the parent-subsidiary relationship between AGCO and iGO. This change would strengthen iGO’s governance and accountability structure and contribute to the continued success of Ontario’s thriving igaming market by positioning the agency as a competitive employer and addressing a conflict-of-interest concern raised by the Auditor General.”

Ontario Revenue Up 35.4% in Q2 2024-25

iGaming Ontario recently released its quarterly data revealing a significant year-on-year increase in wagers and revenues.

• Total wagers – reached $18.7 billion, excluding promotional wagers (bonuses). This marks a 1.6% rise compared to the previous quarter and a substantial 31.7% growth compared to Q2 of the previous year.
• Gaming revenue – totaled $738 million, reflecting a 1.7% quarter-over-quarter increase and a 35.4% jump year-over-year. This revenue includes all cash wagers, such as rake fees, tournament fees, and other charges across Operators, minus player winnings from cash wagers. It does not account for operating expenses or other liabilities.
• Active Operators and Websites – During Q2, 51 Operators ran a total of 83 gaming websites. You can view the latest list of Operators and platforms with active gaming activities.
• Player Activity – Over 1.32 million player accounts were active in Q2. This figure refers to accounts with cash or promotional wagering activity but does not represent unique individuals, as a single player may hold accounts with multiple Operators.
• Average Spending – Each active player account spent an average of $308 per month.

Market Segmentation

• Casino Games – $16 billion in total wagers (86%) and $553 million in revenue (75%).
• Sports and Other Betting – $2.2 billion in total wagers (12%) and $167 million in revenue (23%).
• Peer-to-Peer Poker – $417 million in total wagers (2.2%) and $18 million in revenue (2.4%) .

Jenny Tang

An experienced iGaming commentator and analyst based in New York City – Jenny reports on regulation and gambling industry news and events.