AGCO Warns Ontarians of Online Gaming Scams

Article by : Milena Petrovska Apr 25, 2024

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The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), and other law enforcement parties have issued a caution to Ontario residents regarding a rise in activities related to online gaming scams.

CTV News Barrie, a local news media outlet, reported that scams are targeting gamblers and leading them to register and play at unregistered platforms. One of those unregistered platforms is WinSpirit Casino. Now, authorities are doing everything they can to ensure that Ontario players remain on safe sites accredited by the province’s regulators.

Local Authorities Remain Vigilant In Ensuring Safe Gaming Environment

According to Ontario laws, only gambling entities holding a license from iGaming Ontario can provide services in the region. AGCO is the regulatory body of the whole industry, and it offers a full list of approved operators on its website.

Third-party entities such as OPP are there to aid AGCO and other agencies in enforcing the laws.

An OPP spokesperson commented on the rise of scams. He stated that although offers from unregistered sites were sometimes tempting, players must be careful and choose only those with a local license.

He also added that these unregistered and unlicensed platforms could compromise users’ financial and personal security. In conclusion, the OPP spokesperson said that licensed online gaming sites met industry standards in terms of creating a safe and fair environment.

Offshore gambling sites don’t have to follow the same rules as Ontario-licensed casinos, whose policies are tailored for Ontario consumers.

Ontario Agencies Inspired by Similar Case in Manitoba

An AGCO representative also spoke briefly about the case. He said that users could greatly reduce the risk of a scam by using common sense and verifying the casino’s status.

These cautions are somewhat “inspired” by a similar development in Manitoba at the start of 2024.

Back in January, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries issued a warning related to fraudulent posts on social media networks. These Facebook posts marketed a gambling app under the wing of Club Regent Casino.

MLL stated that it reported the fraudulent ads to Facebook’s parent company, Meta. It also acknowledged that the ads may continue to circulate, which was why they advised residents to block and report them.

The regulator’s statement stated that PlayNow is the only platform with a legal and secure online gaming site in Manitoba.

Recent Study Shows Most Ontarians Use Legit Casinos

It’s interesting to note how AGCO’s proactive approach is showing positive results in terms of where Ontario consumers play. Let’s see what a report published on the regulator’s site in early April 2024 reveals.

A recent study by Ipsos showed that 86.4% of gamblers in Ontario enjoyed the services of legal online casinos in the past three months. The study, which was posted on AGCO’s official website, noted that currently, 44 operators provide Ontarians with 77 legal and regulated gambling sites in the province.

This is a 1.1% increase compared to the findings of a similar study in 2023. Back then, the study showed that 85.3% of iGaming players participated in these activities on legal platforms.

Ontario’s Attorney General, Doug Downey, stated that Ontario’s iGaming model “has been recognized internationally” ever since its launch in 2022 and would continue to “inspire global innovation.”

However, there was one slightly disturbing fact in the study.

It also found that 20.1% of the iGaming participants in the past three months wagered on both registered and unregistered sites. Furthermore, 13.6% solely wagered on unregistered platforms. Gamers managed to name around 350 websites that were recognized as unregulated.