Where can I check the current licensing status of an online casino before I sign up as an Ontario player?

Two official sources answer this question definitively, and knowing both saves you from ever having to guess.

The iGaming Ontario operator directory — your primary check

A directory of all fully registered and authorized operators and their igaming sites is available via the iGaming Ontario website. That page lives at igamingontario.ca/en/operator/operators, and it is updated every time a new site offered by a regulated and authorized operator is made available. So it's genuinely current — not a static list that could be months out of date. If a site you're considering isn't on it, that's your answer: don't sign up.

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. To complete these steps, these organizations will have met rigorous standards of game integrity, fairness, player protections and social responsibility. That two-step process — AGCO registration plus an iGO operating agreement — is what separates a legitimate Ontario casino from an offshore site with no accountability to anyone here.

The AGCO's own site at agco.ca also addresses this directly: a directory of all fully registered and authorized operators and their igaming sites is available via the iGaming Ontario website. Both regulators point to the same source, which tells you that's the definitive place to look.

On-site logos as a quick visual signal

Beyond the registry, there's a fast in-browser check. 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 Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. BetGuard, launched in May 2026, is Ontario's centralized self-exclusion service — its logo on a site confirms the operator is plugged into that system and fully accountable under the provincial framework. If either logo is absent, treat that as a red flag and cross-reference the directory before going any further.

It's worth pausing here: if you're using BetGuard or any of the responsible-gambling tools on a regulated site and ever feel like things are getting out of hand, ConnexOntario (1-866-531-2600) is the province's free, confidential support line. All regulated sites are required to provide access to these resources.

What the directory actually tells you — and what it doesn't

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. So the directory is useful in both directions: it confirms who's currently approved, and it flags operators who may have exited the market. The AGCO is only able to assist players with disputes related to regulated sites. If you are playing on an unregulated site, you are putting yourself at risk and should consider switching.

For Ottawa players specifically, the practical takeaway is simple: bookmark igamingontario.ca/en/operator/operators, check it before you create an account anywhere, and look for both the iGaming Ontario and BetGuard logos once you land on a site. That two-step habit takes about thirty seconds and eliminates most of the risk. You must be 19+ to play on any of these platforms.