The policy change will now allow marketing affiliates to promote online sports betting, online casino, and daily fantasy sports in Ontario by securing a provincial online gambling license. Only licensed operators will be permitted to advertise these forms of online gambling in the province.
Operators can apply for a license from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and iGaming Ontario. Once they secure a permit, they must also obtain a Google Certificate in order to place the ads. The legal online gambling market in Ontario is set to launch on April 4th, with several operators already holding licenses, including Bet365, FanDuel, Unibet, BetMGM, PointsBet, and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.
Other licensed operators include LeoVegas, Rush Street Interactive, Rivalry, theScoreBet, 888, Coolbear, and Fitzdares. Annexio Limited will operate as Lottogo, while NSUS Limited will use the WSOP brand. Additionally, supplier licenses have been issued to Inspired Entertainment, Play’n Go, Kambi, and High 5 Games.
The provincial government’s plans to introduce a licensing regime for online gambling have been in progress since 2020, when legislation was introduced to end the lottery’s online gambling monopoly. Final standards for online betting and gaming were published in September 2021, though some legal experts have raised concerns about potential conflicts with the Criminal Code of Canada.
