IAGR launches license check tool for Canadians

IAGR has launched a new information tool that allows users to check whether a betting site is licensed in several Canadian provinces. The tool, available at CheckBeforeYouPlay.org, is free. It was developed by Sharp Vision, a Paris-based regtech company. Users can enter a site address to access license information for IAGR member jurisdictions.

IAGR President Kevin Mullally said people often confuse visibility with trust. In his view, a professional-looking site or a well-known name can create consumer trust even when it is not known whether the site is licensed in that region. Mullally stressed that players should check license status before opening an account or depositing money.

The initiative was announced as part of the first Illegal Gambling Awareness Week, held from November 9 to 13. The week is described as the first internationally coordinated effort to draw attention to the risks of unlicensed online gambling. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and iGaming Ontario (iGO) both issued statements about the week this week. According to IAGR, the risks of unlicensed sites include unpaid winnings, limited options for resolving disputes, and misuse of personal financial information.

As of November 12, Ontario's regulated iGaming market had 48 licensed operators and 83 iGaming sites. According to today's report from Canadian Gaming Business, Maverick is closing its operations in the province. Private operators compete with the platform run by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG). According to an Ipsos survey published by iGO in May, 91.1 percent of people who bet online played on regulated sites, up from 83.7 percent the previous year. Even so, just under 10 percent continue to play on unregulated sites.

According to iGO's financial data, sports betting revenue in the regulated market rose 27 percent from the previous month in September, reaching 69.1 million Canadian dollars. Total revenue, including online casino and poker, was recorded at 416.3 million dollars. This figure represents a 5 percent increase over August. In September, the number of active player accounts reached a record 1.413 million.