TLDR
- Ontario launched BetGuard, a centralized self-exclusion portal letting residents aged 19+ block all regulated online gambling platforms at once
- Users can choose exclusion periods from six months to five years and stop all marketing messages from operators
- The system covers all regulated platforms including OLG and requires no visits to individual operator sites
- Bill 107 has been introduced separately to ban all online gambling advertising in Ontario
- Ontario’s regulated iGaming sector generated C$262 million in revenue during 2024-25
Ontario has rolled out a new centralized self-exclusion tool called BetGuard, giving residents a single portal to step away from all regulated online gambling platforms in the province.
The system, available at BetGuard.ca, allows anyone aged 19 or older to block access to their accounts across every regulated operator. It also prevents the creation of new accounts and stops marketing messages from reaching users who opt out.
How BetGuard Works
The portal is designed to be simple. Users can register and exclude themselves in minutes without having to visit each gambling site individually.
Exclusion periods range from six months to five years. Users can also set a custom timeframe that fits their needs.
The system covers all regulated platforms operating in Ontario, including OLG. Operators have been instructed not to send any marketing materials to people who have opted out.
A customer care line is also available for anyone who needs support during the process.
iGaming Ontario President Joseph Hillier said the tool is built around player choice. He explained that the sustainability of Ontario’s iGaming market depends on giving people the ability to opt out when they need to.
Ontario’s Minister Stan Cho said strong regulation paired with tools like BetGuard ensures the province’s iGaming sector puts player health and safety first.
The Responsible Gambling Council called centralized exclusion one of the most effective harm-prevention tools available. ConnexOntario described it as a timely support option.
Ontario Faces Broader Gambling Reform Push
Industry groups have backed the initiative. Paul Burns, President of the Canadian Gaming Association, said members are committed to implementing BetGuard in their daily operations. He added that any player who chooses to take a break should be able to do so instantly and completely.
The launch of BetGuard comes as Ontario’s regulated iGaming market continues to grow. The sector generated C$262 million in revenue during the 2024-25 period. That revenue is reinvested back into the province.
The self-exclusion portal is not the only regulatory move happening in Ontario right now. Legislators recently introduced Bill 107, known as the Stop Harmful Gambling Advertising Act.
If passed, Bill 107 would amend the Gaming Control Act to prohibit licensed operators and their partners from advertising through any medium. Supporters of the bill say public health has worsened since Ontario opened its competitive iGaming market four years ago.
The bill states that addiction to online gambling is an emerging public health crisis in Ontario, calling it the only province that has privatized online gambling in the country.
At the federal level, bill S-211 targeting sports betting advertising has already passed the Senate. It is now awaiting review in the House of Commons.
Separately, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario fined Relax Gaming and Arrise Solutions C$40,000 each. The penalties came after their content appeared on unlicensed gambling sites.
Ontario’s regulated gambling market now has both new player protection tools and pending legislation that could reshape how operators market their services in the province.
