TLDR
- The International Association of Gaming Regulators launched CheckBeforeYouPlay.org, a free tool to verify gambling site licenses.
- The tool covers IAGR member regulators in Ontario, British Columbia and Manitoba.
- The launch is part of the first Illegal Gambling Awareness Week, running Nov. 9 to 13.
- A May study found 91.1% of Ontario online gamblers used regulated sites, leaving just under 10% on unregulated ones.
- Ontario’s regulated market earned CA$416.3 million in September, with a record 1.413 million active accounts.
Nearly one in ten online gamblers in Ontario still play on sites without a provincial license. A new free tool released this week aims to help Canadians spot those sites before they sign up.
The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) has launched CheckBeforeYouPlay.org. The website lets users check whether a gambling site is licensed in several Canadian provinces.
How the New Checker Works
Users enter a gambling site’s web address into the tool. It then shows available licensing information for covered IAGR member jurisdictions, using regulatory records and other verified public sources.
The checker was built by Sharp Vision, a regulatory technology company based in Paris. The firm helps regulators monitor markets, study betting and payment data, and find unlicensed online gambling sites.
IAGR members include the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), British Columbia’s Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch, and Manitoba’s Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority. As a result, the tool gives users a summary of what is licensed in those provinces.
“People often mistake visibility for trust,” said Kevin Mullally, IAGR’s chief executive. He said a professional-looking website or a familiar name can make people feel confident without knowing if the site is licensed where they live.
Mullally said the group wants consumers to check a site’s licensing status as a regular habit. He said this should happen before a person opens an account or makes a deposit.
The launch is part of the first Illegal Gambling Awareness Week, which runs from Nov. 9 to 13. It is the first internationally coordinated effort to warn the public about the risks of unlicensed online gambling.
The AGCO and iGaming Ontario (iGO) both released statements this week recognizing the campaign. IAGR’s goal is to get regulators to share a common message and teach the public why licensing matters.
IAGR lists several risks of using unlicensed sites. These include winnings that are never paid, few ways to settle disputes, and misuse of personal financial information.
Ontario’s Regulated Market by the Numbers
An Ipsos study released by iGO in May found that 91.1% of online gamblers in the province used regulated sites. That was up from 83.7% the year before, but it still leaves just under 10% playing on unregulated sites.
The regulated market has continued to grow in recent months. In September, sports betting revenue rose 27% from August to CA$69.1 million, or about US$48.5 million.
Total revenue across sports betting, online casino and poker reached CA$416.3 million (US$292 million) that month. That figure was up 5% from August.
Active player accounts also reached a record 1.413 million in September. That is the highest monthly total the regulated market has reported.
As of Nov. 12, the province had 48 licensed operators running 83 gambling websites, Canadian Gaming Business reported. These private companies compete with an online platform run by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.
The operator count includes Maverick, which is shutting down its operations in Ontario. Its exit was reported on the same day the latest totals were published.
