New Gamers Knowledge Base: What are iGaming Sites in Ontario?
The gambling landscape has changed so much in recent years, especially here in the Province of Opportunity. We went from a thriving casino industry, to a mix of online and on-land gaming, to a 99% virtual-only environment (in 2020, of course). Now, we’re back to mixed gambling, but it’s a whole new ball game. We have local regulation, single-event sports betting, and a bevy of legal iGaming operations competing for our business.
For many people, it may be a confusing time. If that last paragraph made total sense to you, the information in this article probably isn’t for you. If, however, you’re seeking more knowledge on the topic – specifically, a better understanding of iGaming and what it means in Ontario – you’re in the right place.
Let’s start with the basics…
What does iGaming stand for in Ontario?
The Short Answer: iGaming = Internet Gaming
More specifically, iGaming relates to online gambling. We tend to associate the term “gaming” with all sorts of games – video games, mobile games, card games, etc. But when you put the “i” in front, the connotations change completely. What’s with the “I”?
Since the dawn of the internet, people have been dropping a small i in front of any online activity to make it sound more interesting, more desirable, more trendy to the average 20-something consumer. The same is done with the letter e for electronic services that occur online. We have Commerce on land, and eCommerce online. Likewise, we have Gaming centres on land, and iGaming online.
It all comes down to marketability, really. Something with a catchy name is more likely to catch on. Think about it. Would the iPhone be so wildly popular if it were the Internet Phone? Not likely…
Okay, why Gaming and not Gambling?
That’s another easy answer that also relates to marketability. Canada has long referred to gambling as gaming because it is more palatable. The word gambling carries with it inherently negative connotations. The word gaming implies something fun and entertaining; a positive experience just waiting to be had.
What kind of Gambling are we talking about?
The unique thing about iGaming is that the term encompasses all forms of gambling. It’s not just casino games; not just virtual poker or sports wagering. iGaming refers to absolutely anything you can place a bet on over the internet, whether it’s on a computer or mobile device. Casino games, sports, racing, poker, bingo, lotteries… If there’s a wager to be placed and a prize to be won, it falls under the iGaming umbrella.
Why are iGaming Sites so Popular in Ontario?
Internet gambling has been big for decades; since the 1990s, in fact. Up until recently, unless you were already gambling online, you probably didn’t hear much about it. That’s because Ontario didn’t regulate the activity until 2015 with the launch of PlayOLG.
For 6 long years, PlayOLG was the only way to gamble online in a locally regulated space. One website, run by one government agency, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG). There were hundreds of offshore gambling sites to choose from, but if you wanted a home-grown option, PlayOLG was it. And to be honest, it wasn’t all that impressive.
In 2018, Ontario began shuffling up its regulatory code. Single-event sports betting became legal. Amendments made it possible for private iGaming operators to compete. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO) took charge of regulation, creating iGaming Ontario (iGO) to handle licensing and oversight. In April 2022, it all culminated in the launch of Ontario’s iGaming market; the first (and currently only) one of its kind in all of Canada.
Immediate Success Driven by Existing iGamers
Simply having access to a safe and legal market was enough to draw lots of new players to iGO-licensed gambling sites. It helped tremendously that so many people were already placing wagers on the web prior to its launch.
If you’ll remember (who could forget?) throughout all of this, the world underwent the events of 2020. During the lockdown, casinos shut their doors to the public. Those who regularly visited Ontario’s casinos were driven to the digital space.
Some of those bettors chose the province’s own PlayOLG. Others were drawn to offshore iGaming sites. The one thing all of them have in common is that they gained enough experience iGaming from 2020 to 2021 that they could truly appreciate the launch of Ontario’s competitive market. This helps explain why more than 1.2 million active customers are betting with Ontario iGaming websites today.
