In a major development for responsible gambling in Ontario, iGaming Ontario (iGO), the province’s regulator for online gambling, is actively seeking a partner to develop a central self-exclusion system. This initiative aims to allow players to self-exclude from all regulated iGaming operators across Ontario using a single registration process. The Request for Proposal (RFP) published by iGO outlined the vision to launch the Responsible Gambling Program (RGP) by early 2024.
Born from a desire to streamline and advance player protection mechanisms, the new system is set to be a turning point in safeguarding player well-being within the digital gambling sphere. The distinguished partner that emerges victorious from the RFP process will be charged with the crucial task of creating and establishing a system that will seamlessly integrate with existing operator systems, underpinning players’ capacity to register, renew, and reinstate their self-exclusion.
A cornerstone of the RFP’s requirements is the creation of a solution that is user-friendly, enabling players to self-exclude effortlessly. iGaming Ontario emphasizes that the system should operate in a manner that is non-stigmatizing and non-judgmental to further encourage and support those seeking to use it. The envisaged system should not only prioritize user-friendliness but also transparency for both players and operators, guarantee a secure environment, and be financially and operationally feasible for licensees to implement in tandem with their own offerings.
Emphasizing their commitment to excellence, iGaming Ontario stated the aspirations for the partnership: “We are seeking interest from responsive and nimble companies that are able to build modern, innovative, secure cloud-based SaaS solutions that are high-profile, public-facing and critically important to building and maintaining the trust and confidence of a wide range of stakeholders.” They added, “The successful bidder will partner with us on a multi-year program to develop best-in-class experiences by leveraging modern, innovative technology.”
The impetus for this RFP has been further fueled by recent revenue figures indicating that online gambling revenues in Ontario more than doubled year-on-year in the second quarter, reaching an impressive CA$540 million. This revenue included CA$407 million from online casinos, CA$118 million from sports betting, and CA$16 million from poker, encompassing all wagering cash flows minus player winnings.
As the scope of online gambling intensifies in Ontario, so does player participation. Total iGaming wagers in the second quarter soared by 132% to CA$14.20 billion, with significant contributions from internet casino games, sports betting, and online poker. It is noteworthy that these figures do not account for promotional wagers such as bonuses and free bets, illustrating the organic strength and appeal of iGaming options available in Ontario.
This growth, however, has also highlighted the critical need to reinvigorate responsible gaming protocols, as evident from a recent incident involving PointsBet Canada. This operator faced a fine of CA$150,000 by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) for breaching responsible gambling rules, chiefly for neglecting the needs of a customer who suffered considerable gambling losses amounting to over $500,000 in just three months. The penalty underscored the necessity of maintaining diligent and empathetic support mechanisms for at-risk players, an obligation that PointsBet Canada allegedly failed to meet despite multiple risk flags raised by their internal systems.
iGaming Ontario’s pursuit of a robust and coherent self-exclusion system underscores an unwavering commitment to responsible gambling. Reinforcing these standards through such measures is essential in an era where the province stands alone with a regulated iGaming market since its inauguration in April 2022. With the rest of Canada’s online gaming confined to provincial lottery corporations’ monopolies, Ontario beckons as a trailblazer, setting the example for others to follow, in ensuring that as the entertainment potential of iGaming grows, so do the safeguards for its players.
