Is online gambling legal in Ontario?

1. 1AGCO — Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming: sport and event betting integrity (Standards 4.32-4.34, integrity monitoring and prohibited bets)
2. 2AGCO — Registrar's Standards for Internet Gaming: game design and features (Standards 2.15-2.22)
3. 3iGaming Ontario — Operator FAQs
4. 4AGCO — Registrar's Standards for Internet Gaming: eligibility (Standards 3.01-3.03, minimum age and prohibited and excluded individuals)
5. 5AGCO — Standards and requirements for sport and event betting

Using a VPN to reach gambling sites from Ontario: Restricted.

Gambling with crypto: Banned.

Online casino, sports betting: 19. Lottery: 18. Two different ages, both set by s. 2 of the Gaming Control Act, 1992. Lottery tickets may not be sold to anyone under 18. Nobody under 19 may enter or remain in a gaming site or be permitted to play a lottery scheme in one: which covers casino gaming, gaming machines and sports betting on regulated sites. Charitable bingo run by OLG is 18.

• Tax on winnings: None. Lottery-scheme winnings are not taxable income, unless you gamble as a business ↗

0%: Canadian recreational gambling winnings are not taxable.

There are approximately 49 licensed operators in Ontario as of 10 Sep 2026.

Always verify a casino holds a valid iGaming Ontario / Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) licence before depositing. Check the official register before signing up.

The official register of licensed sitesiGaming Ontario / Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)'s website

Prominent operators in Ontario

If a site isn't on the regulator's licensee register, ask the regulator before you play: an unlisted site is usually not licensed here (a register can lag behind a new licence). An unlicensed site is outside the regulator's supervision, so you cannot complain to the regulator about it.

• Spending limits: You set them. Loss and deposit limits offered at sign-up: 24 hours, 7 days or 1 month. Raising a limit takes at least 24 hours ↗
• Slot speed: 2.5 seconds. Minimum per game cycle; no auto-play or turbo ↗
• Self-exclusion: BetGuard. One sign-up blocks you from all regulated Ontario sites, in effect since 14 May 2026 ↗

Player-protection tools

• ✓ Mandatory deposit limits
• ✗ Mandatory reality / time checks

1. 1

   1. Contact the Operator

   File a formal complaint with the operator through its own complaints process first.

2. 2

   2. Escalate to the Regulator

   If the operator does not respond within 90 days or the player is unsatisfied, a complaint can be filed with the AGCO. The AGCO investigates potential rules violations but does not resolve specific gambling transaction disputes.

   File a Complaint with AGCO
3. 3

   3. Seek Independent Legal Advice

   For disputes over payouts or contractual terms where the player remains unsatisfied after contacting the operator and the AGCO, the regulator advises seeking independent legal advice.

• ✓
  Check for the iGaming Ontario Logo

  Every legal and regulated website must display the official iGO logo. This is a key indicator that the site is subject to Ontario's safety and fairness standards.

• ✓
  Verify the Operator on the iGO Website

  Before playing, cross-reference the site's name with the official list of registered operators on the iGaming Ontario website. If it's not on the list, it's not legal.

• ✓
  Confirm Geolocation is Active

  Regulated sites must use software to confirm you are physically inside Ontario. If a site doesn't require location checks, it is not a legal Ontario operator.

• ✓
  Review the Responsible Gambling Tools

  Legal sites are required to offer comprehensive responsible gambling tools, including deposit limits, time limits, and a clear process for self-exclusion.

• Myth

  All gambling sites that accept players from Ontario are legal.
  Reality

  Only sites registered with the AGCO and appearing on the official iGaming Ontario list are legal and regulated. Playing on unregulated offshore sites offers no consumer protection, dispute resolution, or responsible gambling safeguards.

• Myth

  My gambling winnings will be taxed.
  Reality

  Gambling winnings are not considered taxable income in Canada for recreational players. Winnings are considered windfalls and do not need to be declared on your tax return.

• Myth

  Online poker sites share players with the rest of the world.
  Reality

  The regulated Ontario market is 'ring-fenced,' meaning players on regulated sites like PokerStars ON or BetMGM Poker ON can only play against other players physically located within Ontario.

What you can expect from a licensed site's offers in Ontario. The rules operators must follow are on the operator page.