That's the decision of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and iGaming Ontario, the two organisations responsible for approving new operators in the Canadian province.
Originally developed in 2010, the RG Check program has been used in the accreditation of land-based casinos in Ontario ever since. The program helps operators evaluate, monitor and manage all aspects of their responsible gambling commitments.
Tracy Parker, Director of Standards & Accreditation, RGC, commented: “The RG Check team is excited to make a contribution to a comprehensive RG framework with clear, evidence-based and impactful player protection measures that minimise potential harms associated with gambling.
“A consistent accreditation program for all operators will help ensure a common approach to monitoring and assessment and provide a fair and transparent process. The collaborative approach of RG Check will help support continuous improvement in Ontario.”
Now, all operators will be required to obtain RGC accreditation before receiving their licence. As part of its relationship with iGaming Ontario, RGC will implement additional measures in the future, such as public engagement programs and strengthening Ontario’s responsible gambling framework.
Martha Otton, Executive Director, iGaming Ontario, said: “We are extremely pleased to be partnering with RGC on this initiative.
“The RG Check program is comprised of nine standards and 48 criteria that measure the scope and effectiveness of operators' RG programming in areas such as site and product design, marketing communications and assisting players who may be experiencing harm from gambling. This allows Ontarians to play with confidence.”
In the build-up to the launch, a number of operators have already received their licences, allowing them to commence gambling activities from 4 April.
The likes of 888 Holdings, PointsBet and Rivalry Corporation were recently joined by Kindred’s Unibet, among others, in receiving licences.
