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AGCO Boasts 86% Casino Market Channelisation in Canada
By Shane Addinall Apr 07, 2024 IndustryThe AGCO celebrated two years of legal online gambling by sharing important online casino and betting stats. Join us as we delve into how the regulator has grown online casino channelisation in Ontario over its first twenty-four months.With regulated online gambling in Ontario celebrating its second birthday this month, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) shared notable market statistics and unveiled its hallmark successes.
In a statement that expressed his overall happiness with the body’s performance, the Attorney General of Ontario, Doug Downey, said:
Quote“Since its launch in April 2022, Ontario’s igaming model has been recognized internationally for championing work to displace the unregulated online gaming market. This made-in-Ontario, regulated market will continue to inspire global innovation while ensuring a safer landscape for players and businesses alike.”
Most Canadians Support Licensed online casinos
The study tracked a variety of key market objectives, beginning with the opening of the market in April 2022. The Ipsos study, which concluded in February 2024, found that an incredible 86.4% of all online gambling in Ontario occurred at licensed and regulated sites.
Dr Karin Schnarr, AGCO's Chief Executive Officer and Registrar, said:
Quote“In Ontario, regulated sites are held to high standards of game integrity, data security and player protections, including having significant responsible gaming safeguards.”
Looking back at the early days of the Ontario gambling market, more than 70% of all wagers on games of chance and betting on events took place on black market gambling sites. This means that legal gambling activities have seen an increase of nearly 86% in the last year alone.
AGCO Continues to Strive For Improvements
It is incredible to see regulated wagering grow from 30% to 86.4% in only two years, yet AGCO is not sitting back and accepting pats on the back. According to the study, just over 20% of participants wagered at licensed and unlicensed sites, with 13.6% stating they bet exclusively on unregulated platforms.
Speaking of the unregulated wagers, Dr Schnarr added:
Quote“While it’s encouraging to see most participants are choosing regulated gaming options, those who are not are unfortunately risking far more than their wagers.”
Despite players in the study naming the more than three hundred and fifty illegal operators they frequent, the AGCO has no plans to make it illegal for Ontarians to access these sites.
In a commendable commitment to free and fair online gambling regulation, the gambling authority has stated that it will continue to find new ways to make licensed casino entertainment attractive to players.
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