How do I verify that an Ontario online casino's licence is current and still in good standing?

Checking whether a casino is legitimately registered in Ontario takes about 60 seconds and requires nothing more than two official sources — and the answer is definitive either way.

Step 1: Check the iGaming Ontario operator directory

A directory of all fully registered and authorized operators and their igaming sites is available via the iGaming Ontario website at igamingontario.ca/en/operator/operators. This is the live source of truth — if a casino you're considering isn't listed there, it isn't operating legally in Ontario, full stop. The list is maintained by iGaming Ontario (iGO), which became an operationally independent agency in 2025 and manages the regulated market, while the AGCO handles registration and enforcement.

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. Both steps are required — AGCO registration alone isn't enough to appear in the directory.

Step 2: Look for the logos on the site itself

Every internet gaming website offered by a fully registered and approved operator in Ontario will have iGaming Ontario and BetGuard logos displayed. If you see these logos, you know that the website operations are managed by iGaming Ontario and regulated by the AGCO, giving you the confidence that you're playing on a secure website that offers a safer and more socially responsible experience.

So there are two visual signals to look for at the bottom of any Ontario casino site: the iGaming Ontario logo and the BetGuard logo. BetGuard (betguard.ca) is Ontario's centralized self-exclusion service, launched in May 2026, and its logo appearing on a site is itself a regulatory marker — only operators who are fully integrated with the self-exclusion registry are entitled to display it. If either logo is missing, treat that as a red flag worth investigating before depositing anything.

What registration actually means

To complete these steps, operators will have met rigorous standards of game integrity, fairness, player protections and social responsibility. Their sites will have controls preventing underage access and measures to enable more responsible gambling. They have entered legal agreements ensuring compliance with applicable laws, including anti-money laundering.

For Ottawa players specifically, this matters because there are no locally-distinct licensing bodies — the provincial framework covers the whole of Ontario uniformly. A casino that's on the iGO directory is as legitimate for an Ottawa resident as it is for someone in Toronto or Thunder Bay.

One catch worth knowing

The directory reflects current status, not historical status. Review the list of current regulated operators and associated gaming sites — if a gaming site or operator used to be included but is no longer listed, they have most likely ceased operations in Ontario. Operators do exit the market occasionally, so it's worth a quick re-check if you haven't visited a site in a while, particularly before making a significant deposit.

The AGCO's own page on registered internet gaming operators points directly to the iGO directory as well — a directory of all fully registered and authorized operators and their igaming sites is available via the iGaming Ontario website — so both regulators are pointing to the same list. Cross-referencing both sites takes seconds and removes any ambiguity.

Ontario's legal gambling age is 19+. If gambling is ever causing stress rather than entertainment, ConnexOntario (1-866-531-2600) is available around the clock.