The rapid advancements of technology have had a positive impact on various industries. From medicine to entertainment, everybody stands to gain something from the changes that we see in tech, particularly digital tech. A small aspect of entertainment that, none-the-less, has seen a major boost is iGaming.
For those who don’t know, iGaming is the catch-all-term that refers to online casinos, and other forms of gambling on the internet. Recently, this industry has had major success in Ontario, Canada. In this article, we explain everything that one would need to know about iGaming in Ontario.
Legalization
For a long time, iGaming in Canada existed in a legal gray area. Some provinces banned the practice entirely, while others allowed residents to access offshore casinos. However, in 2022, Ontario became the first province to join many European countries in legalizing online gambling, and creating a regulated market, for Canadian gamblers to enjoy.
In April of 2022, Ontario launched Canada’s first, regulated, private online gambling market. Due to this fact, residents of the province can now freely access sites like Casino Days Ontario, which has quickly become one of the biggest, if not the biggest, casino operators in the Canadian province. With over one hundred table games, and thousands of slots to choose from, the site is certainly a great choice.
As for the regulation aspect, well that responsibility falls on two major organizations. One is the Alcohol and Gambling Commission of Ontario (AGCO), a government organization, or Crown agency, that serves under the Ministry of the Attorney General. The other is iGaming Ontario, which works with the government diligently, in order to ensure a safe and reliable market.
Popularity
Online casinos are certainly legal in the province of Ontario. But, are they popular? The answer is a resounding yes. Online casinos have become a rather huge hit, not just in Toronto, and Ontario in general, but more broadly in Canada. There are several good reasons for the success of internet gambling, and we are going to take a look at a few of them below.
- Accessibility
One of the biggest factors that contributes to online casino’s success is the accessibility to some of the most popular games. Online casinos can be accessed through a PC. However, there are also those that only require smartphone or tablets to use. This makes it possible to have play a quick game of slots on the go, while in the café, or even during lunch break at work.
- Convenience
Another big reason for the success of iGaming in Toronto is the convenience. Imagine, for example, that you really want to play a round of roulette, but you don’t have a styled sweatshirt, or even any casual wear available at the moment. Well, the good news is that online casinos don’t require any sort of dress code. You can literally spin a few rounds of roulette while wearing your pyjamas.
- Bonus Offers
Finally, a huge reason for the success of online gambling in general, and not just in Canada, is the introduction of bonus offers. For those who don’t know, bonus offers are certain benefits that online casinos offer, in order to get new fans introduced to online casinos. Bonuses vary online, but the most popular are by far free spins and match deposit offers.
Of course, these are just a few of the reasons why online casinos are popular. In truth, there are a lot more, which is why the iGaming industry in Toronto is such a huge success. But, with success comes financial gain. So, has iGaming had a positive impact on Ontario’s economy? That is what we are going to explore in the next segment.
Economy
The most obvious way that iGaming has contributed to Toronto’s, and Ontario’s economy is through tax revenue. By legalizing and regulating the industry, the government of the province now has the authority to tax all revenue generated by legal and regulated online casinos. That means that millions of dollars in tax revenue are now pouring in, enough to say that the decision was certainly a success.
However, tax revenue is not the only economic benefit of online gambling being legalized. Another aspect is the dozens (if not more) job positions being opened up to people from different sectors. Online casinos require programmers that will operate the site, graphic designers who are behind the aesthetic aspects, and game developers. These are fairly niche positions, that none-the-less, must be filled.
However, online casinos also require some fairly rudimentary positions. For example, if the online casino business has land-based headquarters, they will need to be kept up. Customer service jobs are necessary as well, as many newcomers to iGaming might have questions about how everything works. There is also HR, and other business-oriented aspects of the industry.
So, apart from the tax revenue that Ontario has, and will continue to generate, new online casinos are also creating job positions, and driving the unemployment rate down. All of these factors have greatly contributed to the province’s economy being bolstered.
Player Protection
Finally, we have to discuss player protection, and the methods that Canadian casinos employ to ensure that their users remain safe. On the digital side of things, you will find that most of the best Canadian casinos employ SSL encryption and multi-layer authentication to ensure that players are safe from identity theft, hacking, and information leaks.
In order for a casino to legally operate in Ontario, it must be reviewed, approved, and regulated by the AGCO and iGO, so look for licensed and regulated casinos, when selecting a website that offers online gambling. However, this is referring to protections against external threats. What if the player needs protecting from themselves?
Problem gambling can be a very serious issue, which is why online casinos take steps to ensure that their customers remain safe, even from themselves. Through the use of self-exclusion programs, partnerships with organizations that fight addiction, and tools that help them detect problem gambling, regulated casinos in Canada make sure that their products are as safe as they can be.
