Gambling companies that are operating in the regulated market of Ontario without the required license will have to cease their operations in the Canadian province or the local regulatory body – the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario – will force them out. Unlicensed gambling operators have until October 31st to do so.
The province of Ontario has been quite liberal when it comes to gambling and gambling laws, as it has preferred a more relaxed approach to operators that would be targeted in other jurisdictions.
Unlike some European jurisdictions and their adjacent gambling regulatory bodies, the competent authorities in Ontario decided not to pursue companies that had been operational in the province before its market was officially legalized. Instead of showing no leniency, local regulators have helped a large number of brands successfully change their status from unregulated to regulated. The province has also in a way made it easier for customers to continue playing with gambling brands they have gambled with for years.
However, this time, the Ontario gambling watchdog is determined to make sure that every gambling company in the local gambling market is compliant with the rules. According to experts, such a move actually makes sense, as the aforementioned “transition period” is over now, and companies that have been willing to play by the rules and operate legally in the province have already made sure it does so. Other operators are now invited to follow suit if they choose to, but if they do not, they have to be aware that there will soon be some changes in the status quo.
Ontario Regulatory Body to Finally Address Local Gray Sector
The new standard for Ontario’s regulated gambling market establishes that operators and gambling suppliers that currently operate without the necessary licenses in the province are required to end their activities in the unregulated market in order to avoid putting their eligibility for registration under question.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario is also currently adjusting existing rules that are linked to how live dealer games are regulated in the province. According to the regulator, local people have been significantly interested in taking part in such games, mostly because of their convenience and the overall gaming experience they offer. Because of that interest, the watchdog has had a thorough and closer look and found some areas of improvement that are set to come into effect at the end of the month, October 31st.
The changes are being implemented to address the so-called gray sector. As mentioned above, Ontario previously had no problem with allowing gambling operators to target local residents. Thanks to the fact that the matter was never really addressed, the province has quickly become a desired destination for some of the largest gaming brands in the industry, as they were able to gather an impressive database of local customers. However, the authorities realized that more needs to be done to address the matter and, at the same time, plug the hole in the budget that unlicensed gambling companies leave.
According to data cited by the Government of Ontario, about CA$1 billion a year may be actually leaking to foreign operators that operate unlicensed in the province and, therefore, are not required to pay tax by law.
