What is the difference between an operator licence and a supplier licence in Ontario's iGaming system?

Ontario's iGaming framework draws a clear line between two distinct registration types — operator and gaming-related supplier (GRS) — and understanding which is which matters if you want to know who's actually accountable for the site you're playing on.

Operator registration: the entity running the site

Registration as an Internet Gaming Operator is required for entities that operate an internet gaming site within Ontario. The AGCO is deliberately flexible about what "operating" means, because company structures vary widely, but the core idea is clear: operating a gaming site means having an ongoing responsibility for the gaming site as a whole — including having authority to retain suppliers, such as choosing whether Gaming-Related Suppliers are used and which ones.

Being a fully registered and authorized operator means the organization has successfully received a registration by the AGCO and, with the exception of OLG.ca, has executed an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario. That operating agreement is significant: it makes the operator a direct participant in the province's regulated lottery scheme, not just a technology vendor. To get there, these organizations must meet rigorous standards of game integrity, fairness, player protections, and social responsibility — including controls preventing underage access and measures to enable responsible gambling, as well as legal agreements ensuring compliance with anti-money laundering rules.

The operator is also the party ultimately on the hook. Operators are expected to ensure that the standards related to the operation of their gaming site are met, regardless of which entity is actually carrying out the related activities. If a third-party game provider has a problem, the operator can't simply point the finger — the compliance obligation sits with them.

Gaming-related supplier registration: the B2B layer

Gaming-related suppliers are goods or service suppliers, not operators — including those that manufacture, provide, install, test, maintain, or repair gaming equipment, or who provide consulting or similar services directly related to the playing of a lottery scheme or the operation of a gaming site.

The AGCO splits GRS registrations into two categories. A "Gaming-Related Supplier – Manufactures" registration covers a person that manufactures, provides, installs, tests, maintains, or repairs gaming equipment, or provides consulting or similar services directly related to the playing of a lottery scheme or the operation of a gaming site. A "Gaming-Related Supplier – Other" registration covers a person that provides, installs, tests, maintains, or repairs gaming equipment, or provides consulting or similar services directly related to the playing of a lottery scheme or the operation of a gaming site. In practice, this catches a wide range of businesses: game studios, platform providers, electronic wallet providers, odds compilers, sports integrity monitors, and independent testing labs.

To supply products or services to iGaming operators in Ontario, you need to be registered with the AGCO. Critically, there is no special designation or registration category for "internet gaming-only" Gaming-Related Suppliers — registration as a Gaming-Related Supplier allows you to provide gaming-related goods and services to the whole of the regulated gaming sector, subject to any terms and conditions imposed by the Registrar.

How the two registrations interact — and why it matters for Ottawa players

The distinction has a direct compliance consequence. Operators and gaming-related suppliers shall not enter into any agreements or arrangements with any unregistered person who is providing goods or services if, to provide those goods and services in iGaming Ontario's regulated online lottery scheme, it would require registration under the Gaming Control Act. In other words, the entire supply chain must be registered — an operator can't simply contract with an unregistered game studio and stay compliant.

For players in Ottawa, this layered structure is the reason a regulated site carries meaningful consumer protections. The operator you're playing on has signed an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario, holds an AGCO registration, and is responsible for every piece of the experience — including the games its suppliers power. You can verify a site's status on the iGaming Ontario operator registry. Regulated Ontario sites display both the iGaming Ontario logo and the BetGuard logo; those two marks together are your signal that the site is operating under the province's framework. Anyone 19+ who needs support can reach ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600.

For the full, current details on registration requirements and fees for both registration types, the authoritative sources are the AGCO's Internet Gaming Operator Application Guide and the Internet Gaming Suppliers Application Guide.