Why iGaming in Ontario is Safer than Offshore Websites
Legitimately Local: Benefits of Gambling at Legal Ontario Online Casinos
As most of you know, Ontario is home to its very own online gambling market. It’s not the singular home-grown website of old. In April 2022, a broad-scope competitive market was launched. Since then, the landscape has seen dramatic change. In a matter of months, it swelled from over a dozen licensed operators to more than fifty. But why should that matter?
The truth is, a vast sea of online gambling sites have been available in Ontario for years; decades, in fact. Not just in Ontario, but all over Canada. So why is it that provincial leaders feel it is so important to give us not just a locally-regulated iGaming website, but an entire market of competing operators? Why are regulators so adamant that iGaming is safer in Ontario than with offshore websites?
Benefits of Gambling at Legal Ontario Online Casinos |
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After much research and contemplation, we’ve come up with five very good reasons why local players in Ontario really are better off gambling online within the province’s locally-regulated market. The shortlist is this. We go into greater detail below. |
Competition Drives Customer Appreciation |
| As online gamblers, we are the customers, the consumers, of iGaming services. As consumers, we must value customer appreciation. A business that appreciates its customers is one that works hard to attract new clients, and retain the loyalty of existing ones. The number one driver behind customer appreciation is competition.A few years ago, when Ontario’s own PlayOLG was the only iGaming operation to choose, there wasn’t much incentive to stick with it. Now that the market is wide open, featuring well over 5 dozen operators, incentives abound. There are more games to choose from, more promotions to take advantage of, better support services to contact.
The overall satisfaction rating is improving because, quite frankly, it has to. Most of these operators are industry ancients. They know what it takes to survive a mass global market, and are bringing that same level of player-centric quality to Ontario. |
Regulation Enforces Responsibility |
| Every online casino in the history of the internet boasts social responsibility. They all claim to be advocates of player safety, taking great measures to protect their members from the potential harms of gambling. But are they really?In Ontario, the answer is an unwavering yes. Regulations require each and every operator to incorporate multiple layers of player protection. Some are compulsory, such as reminders when a player has spent a significant amount of time or money in a session. Others are voluntary, like self-exclusion plans. In between it all is the requisite illumination of information to help players stay aware of their gambling expenditures, and if necessary, seek assistance in possible problem gambling situations.Any operator that fails to comply with Ontario’s strict responsibility measures will pay swift and costly consequences. It’s already happened to numerous licensees who failed to abide by the anti-advertisement regulations. Operators are not permitted to promote any type of unsolicited bonus or incentives offsite. No billboards. No commercials. Even affiliate websites cannot display promotional offers. The only offsite promotion that’s legal is via email, and a person must subscribe to such emails to receive them.
Long story short – Ontario takes iGaming responsibility very seriously. Any operator that fails to comply risks a hefty fine, if not loss of license. |
Player Fund Segregation Guarantees Payouts |
| Throughout the history of global iGaming, one of the worst problems has been businesses falling apart. Whether it be bankruptcy or insider corruption, the end result is the same. Players are unable to receive payouts, because there is no money to pay them with.In a strictly regulated market like Ontario, rules stipulate that player funds must be held in a separate account from other business funds. In this way, players are assured that the money will be available if and when they request a withdrawal. Even if the operation goes belly up, player funds are still safe. |
Accountability Demands Fairness |
| In unregulated markets, it’s far too easy to implement fake software. I’ve personally observed websites claiming to supply Microgaming casino games – the same games that are inherently fair due to stringent testing from eCOGRA, the world leader in gaming software accreditation – when those games were, in fact, pirated copies of Microgaming’s software. False copies like these can be easily rigged to deliver far lower payout percentages than advertised.Fortunately, Ontarian’s who stick to legal Ontario online casinos, licensed and regulated by the province, don’t have to worry about that. The casinos, and their software platforms, are licensed and monitored for fairness. |
Local Authority Support Investigations and Answers |
| Last but certainly not least, any player who does have a concern about any locally-licensed operation has somewhere to turn to for support. If you think you’re due a payout, and an online casino licensed in Curacao says you’re wrong. No local authority will investigate your case.
Here, you have a list of local agencies ready and willing to help. From the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (prime regulatory body), to the iGaming Ontario (license issuer and monitor), someone will listen to your story, investigate the claim, and provide a timely response. |
Author
Jackpotcity.ca is our editorial pick for your gaming needs. Fully licensed and regulated in Ontario, JC offers an entire suite of casino games, as well as a wide range of deposit options. As seen on TV, and with optional live dealers.
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About the Author
Adalene Lucas: is our jack of all trades here at DBC. She is a skilled coder, gambler, writer and webmaster. She lives in Manitoba where she enjoys the lush landscapes and camping near Tulabi Falls. Nature gives her inspiration to write. When she's not immersed in nature, her favorite words are "game theory". She lives with her husband and their two Labradors, Kophy and Whisper.
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