IAGR Launches Gambling License Checker to Help Canadians Avoid Illegal Sites

The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) has launched a new licensing information tool that lets consumers check whether a gambling site is licensed in several Canadian provinces.

“People often mistake visibility for trust,” said Kevin Mullally, IAGR’s CEO. “A professional-looking website or a recognizable name can give consumers confidence without knowing whether the site is properly licensed in that location. We want consumers to routinely check the licensing status of a site before opening an account or making a deposit.”

Global Campaign Targets Illegal Gambling

The initiative is part of the first Illegal Gambling Awareness Week (IGAW), which runs Nov. 9-13, the first internationally coordinated effort to raise consumer awareness of the risks of unlicensed online gambling.

Both the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and iGaming Ontario (iGO) have issued statements this week acknowledging IGAW. 

The IAGR’s mandate was to encourage regulators to coordinate consumer communication and educate the public on the importance of licensing. According to IAGR, the risks in using unlicensed sites include unpaid winnings, limited options for resolving disputes, and misuse of personal financial information.

New Tool Verifies Licensing Status

The new information tool, CheckBeforeYouPlay.org, is free and was developed by Sharp Vision, a Paris-based regulatory technology company that helps regulators monitor markets, analyze betting and payment data, and identify unlicensed online gambling sites.

Users can enter a gambling site’s URL and check available licensing information for covered IAGR member jurisdictions, drawing on regulatory records and other verified public sources. 

IAGR’s membership includes AGCO, British Columbia Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch (GPEB), and the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba (LGCA), so the new tool gives consumers a summary of what is licensed in these jurisdictions.

Ontario’s Regulated Market Continues Growing

The regulated iGaming market in Ontario includes 48 licensed operators and 83 iGaming websites as of Nov. 12, including Maverick, which is shutting down operations in the province, according to reporting today (Nov. 12) by Canadian Gaming Business. Those private operators compete with the iGaming platform run by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG).

In May, iGO released an Ipsos study finding that 91.1% of respondents who gambled online reported doing so on regulated sites, up 7.4% from the previous year (83.7%). That still leaves just under 10% gambling on unregulated sites.

In September, according to iGO financial data, the regulated market saw a 27% month-over-month increase in sports betting revenue (CA$69.1 million, or $48.5 million). The market generated $416.3 million ($292 million) in revenue overall, including online casino and poker, up 5% from August.

Active player accounts hit a record of 1.413 million in September.