To Gamble Online or Not to Gamble Online…
So, I got to thinking. If you live in Ontario and you’ve been waffling over playing at an online casino, you might have a lot of questions about iGaming in our province, like I did (and on occasion still do).
Before I decided to partake in online gambling, I wanted answers to these questions. I figured, in case it might help you, I would put together some of the things I learned prior to making my first real money deposit.
To keep it simple and brief, I’m going to lay this out in a FAQ format.
iGaming in Ontario FAQ Based on My Experience (so far)
How easy is it for an Ontarian to gamble online?
Easy.
- You need to be 19+.
- You need an internet connection and a device that can connect to said internet connection (computer, smartphone).
- You need to provide ID (driver’s license, utility bill, etc.) that proves your age and address.
- You need a mobile number.
- You need an email address.
- You need money that you can deposit using one of the casino’s available payment methods.
- You need to follow the casino’s rules.
That’s it in a nutshell.
Who regulates iGaming in Ontario?
The regulator is The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). It is their stringent rules that licensed online gambling operators in Ontario must follow. These rules include promoting responsible gambling, protecting vulnerable people (young people and self-excluded players), and enhancing game integrity.
The license is supplied by iGaming Ontario and is given only to those operators that have completed the AGCO’s registration process and have signed an agreement with iGaming Ontario. Sites that are conducted and managed by iGaming Ontario feature the organizations logo. It looks like this 👇
How do I know if an online casino is safe?
I’ve written another post about this one, which you can check out here if you want to explore this in greater detail. The simplified version is to only play at online casinos that are licensed by iGaming Ontario (the logo should be displayed on the site). You can also verify that the casino site is legit licensed by looking for them on the official iGaming Ontario site here. A legitimately regulated and licensed operator adheres to all practices required by the regulator, ensuring security, fairness, and responsible gaming.
What do I need to sign up at a casino?
Signing up is free, but you will need to provide personal details to create your account, like:
- Mobile number
- Date of birth
- Full name (first, middle, last)
- Gender (typically only “male” and “female” are an option – the industry needs to work harder on inclusivity IMO)
- Address (house number, street name, city, province, postal code, country)
- Create a username
- Create a password
- Choose if you want to receive marketing info
- Agree to the terms and conditions and privacy policy (you really should read them first…I did my best before my eyes crossed 😵)
- Confirm that you nor any of your close family members/associates are not a Politically Exposed Person (PEP) or Head of an International Organization (HIO)
- Confirm that you are not acting on behalf of someone else’s instructions in opening or using your account
- In Ontario, you will also need to provide details regarding your current occupation, such as the industry you work for and your job title.
- You will then be sent a code via email or your mobile number to verify your account.
Although the sign up process won’t likely be exact at every casino, the above is the overall gist of what you can expect.
Do I need to send personal documents to verify my ID?
Yes. You will need to upload documents to verify your account, which is why you need to be honest about the details you provide when you sign up, because that info will be verified. This may occur directly after registration, when you make your first deposit, or when you make a withdrawal. The documents needed include:
- Proof of identity – e.g., driver’s license or passport
- Proof of address – e.g., utility bill or bank statement dated not older than 3 months
You may have to upload a document verifying your payment method as well, depending on what you select, or if you change it, etc. Any questions or concerns you have about the verification process, uploading documents, etc. are questions to ask the casino’s support team.
Why is this information needed?
Essentially, your personal information and documents are needed to meet KYC (Know Your Customer) protocols required by the AGCO. It verifies to the iGaming operator that you are a real person, you reside in Ontario, and you are the legal gambling age. More specifically, it’s collected for three primary purposes:
- To verify that the details you entered during registration are true
- To prevent identity theft, fraud, money-laundering and other criminal activity
- To prevent underage gambling or prevent self-excluded players from gambling
What is XPoint Verify?
When I first signed up, I was required to download XPoint Verify, and I was like, “what the heck is that?”🤔 XPoint Verify is a real-money gaming geolocation software, which was specifically developed for online gambling operators (casinos, sportsbooks, etc.). It helps operators meet their regulator obligations by confirming the player’s location. So, for us Ontarians, it confirms we’re playing in Ontario. Without XPoint Verify installed and activated on the device (computer, smartphone, tablet) your playing on, you won’t be able to place real-money wagers at casinos that require you to have and use this software
BTW, I don’t know if all iGaming sites in Ontario use XPoint Verify or some other geolocation tech. I just know the site where I play does, and after doing a bit of research, it looks like other sites do too.
Can I access my existing account when I’m not in Ontario?
Yup, you can even create a new account if you’re not physically in Ontario. You just can’t place wagers on any Ontario-related account when you’re not physical in the province.
What payments can I use for deposit?
Ontarians typically have the options of online bank transfer, debit or credit card, but depending on where you play, there may be other options as well. For instance, where I play, my deposit options are: MasterCard, Visa, MuchBetter, Paysafecard, Interac, and Instant Bank Transfer.
- Additional note about payments: As you’ll notice from the screenshot I included above, some payment methods have fees to use them – so that’s worth keeping in mind when deciding on a payment method to use.
- Additional note about payments: Just because you can deposit with a certain payment method, doesn’t mean you can use it to withdraw your funds (e.g., Paysafecard which is a prepaid card) – also something worth keeping in mind.
Will I be taxed on my winnings?
In short, the answer is no, you don’t have to pay income tax on your online casino winnings in Canada or Ontario. Woo Hoo!💰🇨🇦🙌 However, it’s a different story if you are (or intend to become) a professional gambler. If you are a pro gambler, your winnings are taxable, and you are required to report them as part of your main source of income.
What do I do if I need to file a complaint against an operator?
First, you should try reaching out to the casino’s support team to let them know what the problem is and give them the chance to fix it. If it turns out that their support is craptastic or you’re not getting the resolution you want, you can escalate the mater by reaching out to iGaming Ontario and logging a complaint with them. One of the benefits of playing at a locally regulated and licensed online casino is that we have better support options and a greater chance of getting complaints resolved. Thankfully, so far my online casino experience has been complaint-free.
Do you have other questions or want to share your iGaming experiences?
I hope you found the Ontario iGaming FAQ I created helpful, insightful, or interesting. If I think of any other questions I had (or will have) based on my online casino experiences, I might write a sequel to this post at a later time.
That said, if there are any other questions you might have that you want me to share my opinion on, or if you want to comment about your own experiences (which I’d love to know about), please share in the comments section below! 😁
Until next time, good luck and have fun!
Mia 👩💻
*All links and screenshots used in this post are for informational purposes only.
