It seems that everything is moving forward on the laws in Ontario. Indeed, a new release in October seems to communicate that every online casino in Canada registered in Ontario will also be able to operate in most Canadian provinces.
A critical issue for Ontario’s plans
The released document addresses one of the most critical policy issues weighing on Ontario’s plans to allow private operators under a gambling regulatory model.
Canada is still a very sensitive market for unregulated and unlicensed sites. Casinos and sports betting sites abound on the Internet, with no government control, no taxes, and no regulation.
“Bookmakers and Canadians will be required to certify that their activities in the Ontario regulated market are also in compliance with the Criminal Code of Canada.”
Ontario wants all applicants to stop their illegal activities in the province so that they can come online in the new legal market. The goal is to migrate existing eligible customers located in Ontario to gambling sites controlled and licensed by the AGCO. But will these sites have to stop operating in Canada?
Operators will have to comply with all applicable laws
This is a real issue between the OGC and online gambling operators. Indeed, they are wondering whether registration in Ontario will affect them in the various operations they may have in other Canadian provinces.
The OGC answers this general expectation very simply by explaining that licensed operators will just have to comply with all applicable laws. In short, bookmakers and Canadians will have to certify that their activities in the regulated Ontario market are also compliant with the Criminal Code of Canada, when operating in other provinces where no regulation is in place.
Furthermore, the new law and the OEAC will not force operators to stop their activities in other provinces and it seems that this statement is intended to reassure all sites!