Ontario Introduces BetGuard for iGaming Self-Exclusion

(AsiaGameHub) –   Ontario online gamblers now have one tool to block themselves from every provincially regulated betting, casino, and poker site in the province.

Good to Know

• BetGuard is live in Ontario in English and French.
• Self exclusion takes about five minutes to complete.
• More than 75 regulated iGaming sites fall under the system.

BetGuard went live Thursday morning through iGaming Ontario. The new self exclusion site lets Ontarians create an account, verify their identity, and remove access to all regulated online gambling platforms for longer periods.

Once enrolled, a person cannot log in to existing accounts or open new ones with Ontario regulated operators. Those operators must also stop sending marketing to anyone on the BetGuard list.

Ontario Tourism, Culture, and Gaming Minister Stan Cho said:

“The Ontario government is committed to responsible gambling. As online gaming continues to grow in popularity, the launch of BetGuard is an important step forward in helping people play safely and responsibly across more than 75 regulated sites.”

One Ban Across The Regulated Market

Make the safer choice and play on sites offered by legal and regulated Operators in Ontario. Look for the iGaming Ontario logo, so you can #PlayWithConfidence. pic.twitter.com/o3UqL27P6i

— iGaming Ontario (@iGamingOntario) April 12, 2023

Ontario already required each operator to offer self exclusion. However, a player blocked from one site could still use another. BetGuard closes that gap across more than 40 authorized operators and more than 70 sports betting, casino, and poker sites.

iGaming Ontario CEO Joseph Hillier said:

“BetGuard is designed with one simple principle in mind: If you need to take a break from the entire regulated iGaming market, you can. Player choice is key to the sustainability of our market, and that includes the choice to opt out.”

The system uses real time API checks. Operators do not send their own self exclusion lists to BetGuard, and BetGuard does not share its full list back. Instead, operators can check whether a user appears in the system, then block logins, new registrations, and marketing.

iGaming Ontario built BetGuard over more than a year with DataWorks Group, formerly IXUP, Integrity Compliance 360, and Ontario regulated operators. The design follows Australia BetStop program.

The tool arrives in a large regulated market. Ontario operators have handled billions in wagers, while the province received about $262 million in tax revenue for the fiscal year ended March 31. Since 2018, Ontario has also spent more than $420 million on gambling education, awareness, and responsible gambling programs.

Paul Burns, CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association, said the industry supports a central system.

“It has been something the industry has been long looking and waiting for, and we are grateful, because this really delivers on the promise of regulated gaming. This is a real demonstration of what that means in terms of consumer protection.”

BetGuard is the first tool of its kind in Canada. Alberta plans to open a competitive sports betting and iGaming market on July 13 and wants centralized self exclusion ready from day one.

Hillier also wants BetGuard to cover all regulated gambling in Ontario later, including land based casinos, charitable gaming, and horse racing. Horse racing creates extra complexity because wagering falls under federal regulation.

He added:

“It’s really a matter of time and technical complexity.”