Sneak Peek at Ontario's New Sports Betting Standards

In a historic moment for online betting in Canada, Bill C-218 was recently written into force allowing single-event wagers to be placed on sporting events. Up until this point, sports betting in the Great White North was restricted to parlay bets, allowing Canadians to bet on the one outcome in any event or contest is expected to see a massive uptick both in wagers placed and revenue generation.

However, as a part of this new wave of gambling regulation the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has been working on an updated draft of the country’s sports betting standards.

Highest Rated Already A Winning Proposition

Looking at the core intention of the AGCOs new draft there are some major benefits that are immediately apparent given the advent of single-event betting:

There will be no betting exchange restrictions
Esports is now a legal betting option
Live in-game wagers will be allowed
Wagering on Daily Fantasy Sports leagues is legal

There is one very important aspect of the new draft that is a game-changer for sports betting operators. The proposed legislation will allow operators to provide betting on various sporting events and leagues without the necessity of relying on official league data.

More Details Highlights Worth Taking Note Of

Rather than rehashing the entire 66-page legal document which makes up the Registrar’s ‘Standards for internet Gaming’ we have specifically focused on pertinent new additions to the legislation:

✓Game Design and Feature

1. The method of placing bets and all information pertaining to the bet and sporting event must be clearly displayed before the bet is placed.

In accordance with Safer Gambling standards, the structure of betting offers must not encourage extended, continuous, or impulsive play.
All bets must be displayed in Canadian currency, not international currencies or credits.
Multi-event bets must now be identified as parlay bets.
Bettors must have the information and tools necessary to confirm or cancel a bet prior to its initiation.
Customers must have the option to opt out of any auto-accept betting features.
Free to play bets must clearly and accurately display the odds, payouts, and other value-related information.

2. All available sporting events and betting options must be shown to the customer without them having to place a bet first.

All odds, payouts and prices must be available for all bets on offer.
Odds, payouts, market pool investments and completed bet dividends must be displayed for any pool bets offered including money line, spread and over/under.

✓Eligibility

1. Operators are responsible for ensuring that their customers do not participate in the following prohibited activities. These measures include monitoring and prevention regimes.

No bets may be placed using exclusive information or any data on teams and events that is not open to the public.
No one with the power to affect the teams or players in an event, such as a coach, manager, or owner, may not bet on said event or competition.
Any person involved in an event may not also assist in setting the odds for betting on the event.

✓Determination of Game Outcomes

1. All bets must be settled within the parameters that were displayed to the customer when the bet was made. In the case of a dispute, these reasons must be ‘clearly and promptly provided’ to the customer.

2. Sports betting results must be made available to both those betting on the events and the public at the same time. Included with the results must be any relevant information that played a notable part in the outcome of the event.

3. All betting operators must install review controls to ensure that they are able to accurately review the accuracy and timeliness of any event outcome data.

✓Integrity And Match Fixing

1. Operators are required to have risk management controls in place to ensure the integrity of the event in question.

Operators must establish controls aimed at identifying suspicious bets or other activities that threaten the integrity of the event.
These patterns must be reviewed by integrity monitors to determine if there is any actionable illegal activity being undertaken.
Proven maleficence must be reported by the integrity monitor to all member sports betting operators.

2. Independent integrity bodies must inform the relevant sports governing bodies should they uncover any potential fraud or corruption that threatens the integrity of the sporting community. This is not limited to matching fixing but includes any manipulation of an event for the purposes of financial gain.

3. Any operators notified of match manipulation are required by law to suspend or cancel the event in question. This will require the operator to assign themselves that right in advance and adhere to accepted standards of fair play when enforcing this right.

Facts A Step In The Right Direction

It is clear from the new additions to the Canada's sports betting regulation that there is a drive to ensure fairness, increase safer gambling, and protect the integrity of not only Canadian sports but also its betting industry.

While there will certainly a series of adjustments and tweaks over the coming months and year these first few amendments put the industry on a strong footing for success.