Under the Gaming Control Act, 1992 (GCA) and Regulation 78/12, the Registrar is authorized to establish risk-based standards to regulate Ontario’s gaming sector. The objective of a standards-based regulatory model is to shift the focus from requiring registrants to comply with a specific set of rules or processes, which tend to be prescriptive in nature, towards the broader regulatory outcomes or objectives they are expected to achieve. These regulatory outcomes are reflected in the “Standards” established herein.
In most cases, these Standards are drafted at a high level of generality, with the aim being to capture the purpose behind the rule. This offers greater flexibility for regulated entities to determine the most efficient and effective way of meeting the outcomes required, which in turn helps reduce regulatory burden and support market innovation. Further, the flexibility inherent in a Standards-Based model allows the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) to focus its resources on key risks and to deliver a modernized approach to gaming regulation in a rapidly evolving industry.
The Standards were developed based on a comprehensive risk assessment conducted in consultation with key stakeholders, including the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), and social responsibility groups. The resulting risk themes are outlined in the next section and the risk inventory is attached as Appendix A. Going forward, risk assessments will be conducted periodically to ensure that the Standards continue to be relevant, and that the highest standards of integrity for gaming in Ontario are maintained.
OLG, Operators, gaming-related suppliers, sellers and gaming assistants are required to comply with the GCA and Regulation 78/12. Specifically, Sections 3.8 and 3.9 of the GCA require registrants, employees and other persons retained by OLG to comply with the Standards and Requirements established by the Registrar. The GCA provides the Registrar with the authority to establish Standards and Requirements for the conduct, management and operation of lottery schemes or businesses related to a lottery scheme or for related goods or services.
Standards and Requirements established by the Registrar will apply to OLG and to all Operators of lottery schemes conducted in Ontario. Additionally, certain Standards and Requirements also apply to gaming-related suppliers, sellers and gaming assistants.
Specifically, the Standards and Requirements concerning registrants other than OLG and Operators are included below.
The Registrar may direct any registered gaming-related suppliers, sellers and gaming assistants to comply with any additional Standards and Requirements as considered necessary to enhance and preserve the integrity of and public confidence in gaming in Ontario. The Registrar may also propose additional terms of registration specific to an Operator or other registrant to give effect to the purposes of the GCA.
These Standards and Requirements will not apply to lottery schemes conducted and managed by charitable organizations in accordance with section 207(1)(b) of the Criminal Code (Canada) or to suppliers, gaming assistants or other persons engaged in such lottery schemes. Existing standards, policies and terms and conditions will continue to apply to such lottery schemes, until such time as the Registrar determines.
The AGCO recognizes that sport and event betting is an integrated part of gaming. The AGCO has embedded the standards and requirements for sport and event betting within the Registrar’s Standards for Gaming: Lottery Sector. This integrated structure means that the Registrar’s Standards for Gaming: Lottery Sector will generally apply to sport and event betting. The standards and requirements apply to all sports, esports, novelty, and fantasy sports products, and includes various bet types such as single- event, pool, and parlay. Virtual sports are not recognized as qualifying as an event that can be bet upon.
An Operator’s control environment and operating principles form an integral part of the standards-based framework. This section includes information from the Registrar to help guide Operators in the development and implementation of their control environment, as well as to establish key operating principles from a forward looking industry perspective.
The Standards Interpretation Protocol has been established by the AGCO in order to provide registrants and entities participating in the OLG’s Modernization Initiative with a single point of contact for standards-related inquiries and to provide timely, consistent and well-reasoned responses to those inquiries. A dedicated email account has been established (Standards.Coordinator@agco.ca) for the receipt of inquiries.