INSIGHT IAGA SUMMIT WASHINGTON DC - MAY 28-30
What is a critical regulatory issue you are facing in your jurisdiction, and how are you looking to resolve it?
AGCO COMMITTED TO PLAYER PROTECTION IN ONTARIO’S IGAMING MARKET
Player protection and harm reduction are critical issues central to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario’s (AGCO) regulatory mandate across all our gaming lines of business. Over the last few years, the AGCO has been working to transform its responsible gambling approach by shifting accountability from players to operators. Te launch of Ontario’s open, regulated internet gaming (igaming) market on April 4, 2022, provided an excellent opportunity to embed this approach from the outset.
In developing our igaming regulatory framework, our goal was to meet the Ontario government’s objectives of providing consumer choice, supporting the growth of the legal igaming market, and generating provincial revenues for the benefit of Ontarians, while ensuring strong player protections are in place.
Our overall gaming regulatory framework is centred on the Registrar’s Standards, which include outcome-based requirements for operators to protect players and vulnerable people, including youth and self-excluded patrons.
Te AGCO’s Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming place a strong emphasis on reducing gambling harms by addressing risks through prevention, awareness, early identification of concerning patterns of play, intervention, and support for players. Tese Standards set a high bar for player protection and require responsible action on the part of operators at every phase of the player lifecycle. Tis includes responsible advertising standards at the player acquisition stage; our recent amendments to the advertising standards limit the use of athletes and celebrities with an appeal to minors in ads.
Once actively gambling, AGCO Standards protect players by requiring operators to ensure safer game designs. Tese include placing restrictions on losses disguised as wins, auto- play, and speed of play for online slots.
Like many of the leading jurisdictions in the world, the AGCO has been going even further in transforming its approach to harm reduction. Te model in Ontario is now one where the operator has a greater obligation and role in identifying the risk of harmful play before it becomes a serious problem, and to proactively step in with the appropriate intervention and support. In the igaming space, operators have significant information about their patrons and their patterns of play. Trough ongoing analysis of regulatory data, the AGCO is better able to engage with operators when concerns are identified. We use a range of regulatory actions when needed, from education to warnings to
Karin Schnarr Chief Executive Officer and Registrar, Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario
Dr. Karin Schnarr joined the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario as CEO and Registrar in September 2023 after successful careers in government, management consulting and academia. Her most recent position was as an Associate Professor, Strategic Management, at the Lazaridis School of Business & Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University (Laurier) where she led the BBA and MBA programs and served on the University’s Senate and Board of Governors. She has extensive Board of Directors and governance experience across multiple sectors and industries and was recently Chair of the Board of the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario, served two terms as the Vice-Chair of the Waterloo Regional Police Services Board and was a member of the iGaming Ontario board where she chaired the Corporate Affairs Committee. A strong community supporter, Karin also volunteers on the National Advocacy Committee for ALS Canada.
“In developing our igaming
regulatory framework, our goal was to meet the Ontario government’s objectives of providing consumer choice, supporting the growth of the legal igaming market, and
generating provincial revenues for the benefit of Ontarians, while ensuring strong player protections are in place.” Karin Schnarr
monetary penalties when the situation demands it.
Te AGCO was honoured to receive the International Association of Gaming Regulators’ Regulatory Excellence Award, as well as the North American Gaming Regulators Association’s Excellence in Gaming Regulation Award for Ontario’s igaming regulatory framework. We are deeply committed to supporting our government’s objectives of a successful, competitive, and sustainable igaming market in Ontario, while ensuring strong player protections are in place.
WIRE / PULSE / INSIGHT / REPORTS P75
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