Speaking with Altenar’s Technical Compliance Manager, Marina Zacharopoulou, she offered valuable insight into how an operator or gaming-related supplier looking to enter Ontario, Canada can achieve licensing and certification in line with Canadian gambling laws.
As a licensed sportsbook provider, Altenar has extensive and ever-growing experience in the Canadian market, which recently opened its doors to the global iGaming industry. One of the benefits of new markets is the opportunity for innovative technologies and content to emerge—this also applies to new and evolving gambling regulations.
If you’re looking to enter the Canadian gambling market with a world-renowned sportsbook provider, contact Altenar today to book a meeting with our award-winning experts or request a demo of our flexible and stable sportsbook solution!
This article aims to outline the legal requirements of a rapidly expanding iGaming market—one that’s experiencing growing global attention and becoming a regulatory force similar to its North American and Latin American counterparts.
With extensive expertise in these areas, Altenar has positioned itself as a go-to provider in these regions. As a result, many operators rely on Altenar for its tier-one content and commitment to the belief that regulated markets make gaming more enjoyable.
Additionally, Marina explained that in Canada, each province has its own regulatory framework. She noted from the interview*, “During the licensing process we had to meet a list of standards and a variety of requirements—from corporate, to security—alongside auditing our sportsbook through an independent testing lab. The ISO 27001 certification, which we recently obtained, was a huge asset and benefit throughout the process. Of course, Altenar is already licensed and regulated in multiple jurisdictions, so it was relatively straightforward for us to comply with Ontario’s regulations.”
Before we dive deeper into Canada’s gambling regulations, here’s a look at what Altenar offers the Canadian market…
- Bet Builder: soccer, baseball, basketball, American football, and ice hockey.
- Early Payout: soccer, American football, basketball, tennis, baseball, and ice hockey.
- Enhanced parlays and teasers
- 0% Margin: on selected major markets of top events.
- Combination of odds feeds using official real-time data: MLB, NBA, NHL, CFL, and NFL.
- Revamped Cashout
- Robust offering of player props across soccer, baseball, basketball, American football, and ice hockey.
- Esports
- Mobile sportsbook: native app.
As of April 4, 2022, iGaming operators rushed into a newly legal and rapidly growing market: Canada.
What’s required to become regulated in Canada and remain compliant with gambling laws?
You must meet the defined characteristics of a “Supplier,” ensuring your content and solutions are legally compliant and provide the best possible experience for players.
To learn more, providers, operators, or suppliers must comply with the AGCO’s Internet Gaming Suppliers Application Guide, which includes detailed information to help with Ontario’s registration process. Registration is mandatory in Ontario for Gaming-Related Suppliers that fall into the two categories below:
Gaming-Related Supplier – Manufacturers
An entity that manufactures, provides, installs, tests, maintains, or repairs gaming equipment, or provides consulting or similar services directly related to the conduct of a lottery scheme or operation of a gaming site.
Gaming-Related Supplier – Other
An entity that provides, installs, tests, maintains, or repairs gaming equipment, or offers consulting or related services tied to the conduct of a lottery scheme or the operation of a gaming site.
How will the AGCO vet and assess applications according to Canadian gambling laws?
The AGCO will work with you to verify your application and determine whether registration as a Gaming-Related Supplier is appropriate. The Registrar reserves the right to make this determination, focusing on the actual activity your business will engage in—not merely your industry label. Questions they may ask include:
- Are you providing a good or service directly to players?
- Are you producing software, hardware, or offering a service?
- Are your products or services directly related to gameplay or the operation of a gaming website?
Here are some general examples, though each applicant is evaluated individually…
- Platform operators or providers
- Manufacturers, developers, providers, or operators of games and game systems
- Providers of electronic wallets for customers
- Odds-makers
- Organizations that monitor sports integrity
- Independent testing laboratories
Where will you submit any and all necessary documentation to remain compliant with Canada’s gambling laws?
Applicants must complete all AGCO registration-related transactions via the iAGCO web-based portal. You can apply for and manage your AGCO-issued licenses, permits, authorizations, and registrations anytime and from any location by creating an iAGCO account.
You will receive your registration certificate via email once it has been approved (it will also be available for download through your iAGCO account).
You can also view the real-time status of your applications and reuse saved information for all future applications, amendments, and renewals. You’ll only need to update this information when something changes.
What will an operator be required to submit to the AGCO?
To enable the AGCO to begin processing your application, please include the following:
- Supplier Application
- Personal Disclosure for the individuals listed below
- Entity Disclosure (if applicable)
- Regulatory Fee
- Supporting Documents (as applicable)
In addition, supporting documentation may include the following:
- Business Name Registration
- Constituting Document(s)
- Certificate or Articles of Incorporation
- Charter / Bylaws
- Partnership Agreement
- Limited Partnership Agreement
- Limited Partnership Declaration
- Shareholders’ Agreement
- Trust Agreement
- Any other constituting documentation relevant to the entity
- Details of Shares
- Extra-Provincial Power of Attorney (for Limited Partnerships)
- Financial Statements
- Government-Issued Identification
- Personal History – Gaming
- Schematic Diagram
- Partnership & Limited Partnership: showing relationships between partners, affiliates or subsidiary entities, and any individual or entity with a 5% or greater interest
- Corporation: showing relationships between the applicant and all shareholders (including parent or holding corporations) with 5% or more ownership, and any affiliated or subsidiary corporations
- Joint Venture: showing relationships between joint venture partners, affiliates or subsidiaries, and any person or entity holding 5% or more interest
- Association: showing relationships between the applicant and all forming entities, affiliates, subsidiaries, or anyone with 5% or more interest
- Signature of Applicant or Partner(s) as applicable
- Tax Return and Tax Assessment
- Criminal Background Check (if Canada is not the primary residence of the individual)
- Description of Third-Party Suppliers
- Description of Quality Assurance Process
Alongside disclosures and documentation, these requirements ensure your iGaming business remains compliant and up to date with all of Canada’s gambling regulations.
You can learn more about the Canadian market, regulatory compliance, and Altenar’s sportsbook and sports betting solutions by contacting Altenar today!
