Canada · AGCO · iGaming Ontario
Ontario iGaming Registration — AGCO & iGaming Ontario Guide 2026
In April 2022 Ontario became the first Canadian province to let private operators run regulated online gambling. Dozens went live. The model is a 20% revenue share with iGaming Ontario plus AGCO registration — and some of the strictest advertising rules anywhere. Here's how to enter.
Ontario iGaming registration is the authorisation for private operators to offer regulated online gambling in Ontario, requiring registration with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario, under which the operator pays a 20% share of gross gaming revenue.
Quick facts
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Regulator | AGCO / iGaming Ontario |
| Open since | April 2022 — first open Canadian market |
| Operator fee | CAD 100,000 registration + renewal |
| Revenue share | 20% of GGR to iGaming Ontario |
| Scope | Ontario only — other provinces run monopolies |
| Timeline | ~3-6 months for registration + agreement |
Canada’s first open market
Ontario opened the door in April 2022 — the first Canadian province to let private operators run regulated online gambling. Registration is with the AGCO, paired with an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario. Dozens of operators went live in the first year, and it’s now an established, competitive market.
How registration works
You register the operator with the AGCO and sign the iGaming Ontario operating agreement. Registration fees run around CAD 100,000 with renewals. The commercial model is a 20% share of gross gaming revenue paid to iGaming Ontario — a revenue share, not a conventional tax.
The advertising catch
Ontario’s advertising rules are among the strictest going. The AGCO restricts inducements, and in 2024 it banned the use of athletes and most celebrities in gambling ads in the province. Marketing built for looser markets gets you in trouble fast.
Ontario only
The big limit: a registration covers Ontario, not Canada. Other provinces run their own monopoly models. So treat Ontario as a single, valuable market — large, affluent, English-speaking — rather than a gateway to the country.
Pitfalls and nuances
1 Assuming Ontario equals Canada
It doesn't. Ontario is one province with an open market; the rest of Canada runs provincial monopolies. An Ontario registration is not a national licence.
2 Ignoring the advertising restrictions
Ontario tightened ad rules hard, including the athlete-and-celebrity ban. Marketing plans built for other markets often breach Ontario rules — check before you launch.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ontario's iGaming market open to private operators?
Yes. Since April 2022, private operators can register with the AGCO and sign an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario to offer regulated online gambling.
What does Ontario charge operators?
A 20% share of gross gaming revenue to iGaming Ontario, plus AGCO registration and renewal fees of around CAD 100,000.
Does an Ontario licence cover all of Canada?
No. It covers Ontario only. Other provinces run their own monopoly models, so national coverage needs separate arrangements.
What are Ontario's advertising rules?
Strict. The AGCO restricts inducements and, since 2024, banned the use of athletes and most celebrities in gambling advertising in the province.
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- Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario — regulator
- iGaming Ontario — regulator