Across the planet, iGaming markets are slowly growing in popularity. From established markets such as the United Kingdom to the U.S, Brazil, South Africa, Germany, and Australia, more accounts at online casinos and online sportsbooks are being opened and more money is being wagered.
In the case of one market, the rise to success has been a rapid one. In fact, the market does not even represent a country, but a province. Ontario is that province in Canada that has enjoyed a rapid ascent to success to make it one of the most valuable iGaming markets in the world.
This is even more impressive due to the fact online gambling was only legalized in the province in April 2022. With Ontario settled in the top ten for iGaming revenue produced, what factors have contributed to this incredible rise?
Prior to April 2022, online gambling existed in Ontario, and across Canada, but it was not legal. Illegal gambling websites have been around for decades, and many players would still interact with them, despite the elevated levels of risk involved. From April 2022, this changed. The official regulating of online gambling activity created a clear framework for operators to work under.
Illegal operators still exist, but due to more exposure and better education of online gambling, players have become more aware of illegal markets and the risks they present. Furthermore, operators licensed by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) integrate state-of-the-art security protocols such as encryption technology to offer players the highest level of protection. The result, a stronger level of trust in iGaming operators and online gambling overall.
Once online gambling became legal in Canada as a result of the leap of faith made by Ontarian decision makers, the whole iGaming industry was alerted to the opportunity presented by the province. Through Ontario, Canada had entered the iGaming market and operators worldwide were immediately looking to create affiliate providers with the appropriate licensing.
One of those international operators is a reputable provider from Lithuania. TonyBet is one of the most recognized operators in the iGaming industry and in the spring of 2023, the Lithuanian company ventured into the Ontarian market. Tonybet Ontario was formed and at this early stage, TonyBet was able to take advantage of the initial spike in interest in the province.
The arrival of international operators with vast experience and knowledge of the industry ensured that Ontario launched the highest quality iGaming market possible. With the wide range of games, latest technology, long-standing partnerships with reputable game developers, and the most innovative ideas, Ontario luckily did not have to start from nothing.
Despite the vast number and quality of games on offer, one of the main factors for Ontario’s success is the high level of responsibility it has assumed. Trust was created by the legal and regulated framework, but individual player safety was safeguarded by responsibility measures implemented from the first day of regulated online gambling activity.
With the online world in general gaining a greater influence on people’s lives, new risks to wellbeing presented themselves. With finances involved, measures such as deposit and spending limits, as well as reminders to check monthly balances, and timers reminding players how long they had been online, are crucial in helping players monitor their own activity.
In the fast-paced virtual gaming arena, this responsibility on the part of the player is often forgotten. Luckily, Ontario-licensed iGaming operators were proactively supporting their customer base from 4th April 2022, also working with gambling addiction agencies and self-exclusion organizations.
Although Ontario is still in its infancy compared to iGaming powerhouses such as the UK and U.S, Ontario is the perfect template for the markets emerging in the industry. The AGCO were not merely looking to get in on the action. They were looking to set standards across the whole board.
From legal licensing to game play and responsibility, Ontario is showing how a tricky industry can be successfully navigated. There will inevitably be challenges in the future. But right now, Ontario is trending in the right direction.
Photo: Ercan Evcimen, Pexels
