What Is the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario?
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is a regulatory agency in Ontario, Canada, that reports to the Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG). AGCO Ontario is responsible for regulating the alcohol, gaming, and horse racing sectors in Ontario.
It is also responsible for regulating cannabis retail stores in accordance with the principles of honesty and integrity, in the public interest. The AGCO issues licences, permits, authorisations, and registrations for these sectors. This includes the issuing of an AGCO gaming licence in Ontario.
AGCO Ontario Contact Details
If you need quick and easy information about the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario AGCO, we have compiled the below table to help you get in touch with ease.
Official name
Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario
Founded
1998
Headquarters
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Jurisdiction
Ontario, Canada
Motto
Regulating with Integrity
Parent department
Ministry of the Attorney General
Website
https://www.agco.ca/
Alcohol and Gaming Commission Regulations
The Ontario Alcohol and Gaming Commission was established in February 1998 under the Alcohol, Cannabis and Gaming Regulation and Public Protection Act (1996). There are various regulations that operators must meet.
All licensed casinos must undergo various background and compliance checks before they can receive their licence. The regulations that are in place are also designed to protect the players and offer high-quality standards.
All AGCO-licensed online casinos must also ensure the fairness of the games. A third-party auditor is hired to check the fairness of the games and the random number generators.
There are also various regulations in place regarding the advertising and marketing of gambling services. These regulations are there to prevent misleading advertising and marketing practices as well as to protect vulnerable persons.
Why Play at Ontario Gaming Commission Licensed Casinos?
There are many good reasons why you should consider casinos that have a licence from the Alcohol Gaming Commission of Ontario. First off, all online casinos with a gaming licence Ontario operate within the bounds of the law. You can expect games to be fair and your personal and financial information protected.
AGCO gaming casinos also have solid player protection measures as well as responsible gambling tools, such as deposit, wager and loss limits as well as self-exclusion options. All games are also regularly audited to ensure that they are working as they should.
Online casinos with an AGCO licence also have a wide range of gaming options, including the best online slots, poker, table games and live casino games. There are also numerous casino bonuses and promotions up for grabs.
As is customary with AGCO gaming standards, you can also find a friendly and knowledgeable customer support team readily available to assist you
Player Protection in Casinos With an Ontario Gaming Licence
All online casinos with an Ontario gaming licence are committed to ensuring the safety and security of players. To start off with, they must prevent underage gaming by requiring players to verify their age before they can access real-money games.
The Alcohol & Gaming Commission of Ontario also insists that online casinos must promote responsible gambling tools, such as deposit limits, self-exclusion and cooling-off periods.
Casinos licensed and regulated by the Ontario Gaming Commission also collaborate with reputable payment processing providers and use encryption technology to protect players’ sensitive information.
All games must also use random number generators to ensure that all results are produced randomly and are not manipulated in any shape and form as per the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario Act.
Dispute Resolution Under AGCO Ontario
If a dispute arises between a player and the casino, the Alcohol Gaming Commission Ontario can step in to help. In the majority of cases, players must first get in touch with the casino’s customer support team, which is trained to help and handle player complaints. The casino will run and investigate the complaint by looking at transaction records, lots and communication.
If all fails, the player can get in touch with the AGCO. Players can submit their complaint to the AGCO, by describing the issue in detail and providing all relevant documentation and evidence.
The AGCO does not take sides, but instead acts as a mediator between both parties and helps facilitate communication.
How to Check a Casino for an Ontario Gaming Licence
While all casinos listed on this page have been checked by our casino team and are completely safe, there are also some rogue online casinos on the market. Here is a quick step-by-step guide on how to verify such information:
1
Select a casino
Select a casino you would like to check.
2
Check the footer
Look out for the regulator’s logo or seal in the footer section of the casino’s website. You should be able to see the logo of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.
3
Verify the logo
s soon as you spot the AGCO logo, you should be able to click on it. This should redirect you to AGCO’s office website and more specifically, the dedicated page that confirms the casino’s licensing status.
4
Cross-check facts
If the logo is not clickable, you can manually cross-check the casino’s licensing status by visiting AGCO’s official website.
5
Play
Now that you have verified the casino, you can finally start spinning.
New Casinos Licensed With Alcohol & Gaming Commission of Ontario 2024
If you are looking to sign up for an account at new casinos that are licensed and regulated by the Ontario Gaming Commission, then we have got you covered. Check out the latest casino bonuses and promotions by looking at the casino list above.
Casino Regulations by the Ontario Gaming Commission
There are a number of regulations set by the Ontario Gaming Commission designed to promote safe gambling practices, fairness and responsibility. The AGCO is responsible for the issuing of licences to all gaming operators, including online casino sites, racetracks and other gambling platforms. All casinos must verify the players’ age before they can participate in any form of gambling.
Both online and land-based operators must also get their games and RNGs regularly tested and audited to ensure that the games meet the highest standards. Moreover, casinos and gaming platforms must also implement various responsible gambling practices, including offering players tools such as betting limits, self-exclusion and resources for problem gambling assistance.
Casinos must also adhere to strict Anti-Money Laundering regulations to prevent any financial or money laundering crimes. This also includes the monitoring of large transactions and the reporting of any suspicious activities to the relevant authorities.
Why You Should Get an Ontario Gaming Licence in 2024
If you are looking to acquire an Ontario gaming licence, you will be delighted with the number of benefits in store. By obtaining a licence, you are showing that you are in full compliance with the rules and regulations of the gambling authority.
An Ontario licence also gives you access to Canada’s largest provinces, with a large population of potential players. Players are also more likely to trust licensed and regulated operators and players are more likely to register for an account thanks to the fairness and transparency factors that are guaranteed with such a licence.
Gambling Licence Types Offered by the AGCO Gaming Commission
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario offers a myriad of gambling licences, including bingo licences, lottery licences, raffle licences, break open ticket licences and gaming event licences.
The AGCO moreover provides different types of gaming equipment supplier’s licences. The types of licences include gaming equipment supplier’s licences and gaming equipment technical services provider’s licences.
Ontario Gambling Licence Requirements
To obtain a casino licence in Ontario, the applicant must meet a number of criteria. The applicant must be a corporation and have a good reputation for integrity and honesty. They must also have sufficient financial resources to run and manage their gaming operations.
They should also be able to show a business plan to the AGCO that showcases their ability to operate a casino in compliance with the various rules and regulations.
How to Get an Ontario Gambling Licence
To get an Ontario gambling licence, applicants must first complete the application form and submit it to the AGCO. Along with the application form, they should be able to provide supporting documents, including financial statements, a site plan and a business plan.
The applicant together with the directors, key employees and officers must agree to undergo background checks.
After the application has been submitted and the fee has been paid, the AGCO will run a site inspection to check the suitability. If all goes to play a certificate from the Registrar of Alcohol, Gaming and Racing will be issued after which, the applicant is free to apply for a gambling licence.
Ontario Gaming Licence Cost
The cost of obtaining a casino licence in Ontario varies depending on the type of licence and the size of the casino. The application for a casino licence alone is C$25,000. In addition to the application fee, there are other associated costs with obtaining a casino licence. These include licensing fees, payments for gaming equipment as well as payments for gaming supplies.
FAQ
When did the Ontario Gaming Commission start?
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) was established in 1998.
How long does it take to obtain an Ontario gambling licence?
The time required to obtain an Ontario gambling licence depends on the type of licence you are applying for and the application’s complexity. It can take several months.
Is crypto allowed under AGCO gambling laws?
Cryptocurrencies are not mentioned in the AGCO’s regulations. However, the commission did state that each case will be evaluated on its own merits.
Do I have to register with the Ontario Gaming Commission?
You would need to register with the Ontario Gaming Commission if you would like to operate a gaming business in Ontario.
What are the Ontario gaming licence requirements on security?
The AGCO has specified a set of safety and security requirements that must be met by all gaming operators in Ontario. These include verifying the age of the players, responsible gambling measures as well and using SSL encryption to safeguard against fraud and unauthorised access.
How do I contact the Alcohol & Gaming Commission of Ontario?
You can get in touch with the Alcohol & Gaming Commission of Ontario by phone at 416 326 8700 or 1 800 522 2876 or by sending an email to info@agco.ca
How do I complain to the AGCO Ontario?
If you have a complaint, you can either phone 416 326 8700 or 1 800 522 2876 or send an email to complaints@agco.ca
How to get an Ontario gambling licence?
To obtain an Ontario gambling licence, you must submit an application to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario along with all the required documentation and fees. There are different fees depending on the type of licence you are looking to acquire.
How much does the Ontario gaming licence cost?
The cost of an Ontario gaming licence varies depending on the type of licence you are applying for. There is an annual fee of $100,000 per site for an operator of a commercial gaming site, and an annual fee of $15,000 for a manufacturer of gaming equipment.
Kirill is Mr. Gamble's Content Creator with a passion for writing. Being fan of gaming himself, he wants to make sure that everybody gets a fair playing experience...
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