Can an Ontario online casino legally operate without a separate agreement with iGaming Ontario in addition to its AGCO registration?

No — AGCO registration alone is not enough

Short answer: a private online casino cannot legally serve Ontario players on the strength of AGCO registration alone. The two requirements — AGCO registration and an Operating Agreement with iGaming Ontario — are both mandatory, and they are handled by two separate bodies with distinct roles.

Internet gaming operators who want to join Ontario's regulated market must take steps with both iGaming Ontario (iGO) and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) before being allowed to provide their products and services to players in Ontario. Neither body's approval substitutes for the other's.

The AGCO side covers regulatory fitness: integrity checks, technology certification, compliance with the Registrar's Standards for Internet Gaming, and the formal registration itself. iGaming Ontario's role is to execute Operating Agreements with private igaming operators, once they have been registered by the AGCO, and oversee contract obligations for provision of their services in Ontario's regulated igaming scheme. So the Operating Agreement is not a parallel option — it comes after AGCO registration and is the final gate before going live.

The final step before entering the regulated market is executing the Operating Agreement with iGO, at which point the operator is invited to sign and coordinate the activities related to its entrance into the regulated market.

The one exception: OLG

In Ontario, being a fully registered and authorized operator in the igaming market means the organization has successfully received a registration by the AGCO and, with the exception of OLG.ca, has executed an operating agreement with iGO. OLG operates under a different statutory arrangement as a Crown agency, so it sits outside the private-operator model. Every other site you'll encounter in the regulated market — the ones an Ottawa player would actually be choosing between — needs both.

What this means when you're checking a site

Gaming operators that have successfully registered with the AGCO and have executed an operating agreement with iGO can offer their games to players in Ontario, with operators offering gaming sites in the market on behalf of the Province in accordance with these agreements. A site that has cleared both hurdles will display the iGaming Ontario logo and the BetGuard logo — their presence is a quick, reliable signal that the site is fully authorized. All igaming operators in Ontario participate in BetGuard, a tool that allows people to opt out of all regulated online gambling in Ontario. You can also cross-check any site against the live operator registry at igamingontario.ca, which is the authoritative, up-to-date source.

If you ever want to confirm a site's status or have a concern about a gambling experience, the AGCO handles regulatory complaints and iGaming Ontario handles player disputes — both contacts are on their respective sites. And if gambling is ever causing stress rather than entertainment, ConnexOntario (1-866-531-2600) is available around the clock. Ontario's regulated market is open to adults 19 and older.