Short answer
Ontario's regulated online gambling market works through administrative registration plus operating agreements with iGaming Ontario. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) registers operators and relevant suppliers and supervises compliance with its standards. iGaming Ontario (iGO) is the provincial entity that signs operating agreements with private companies and runs the commercial side of market participation.
The main financial terms are:
- CAD 100,000 a year – AGCO registration fee for each gaming site;
- about 20% of AGGR (adjusted gross gaming revenue) – the share attributed to iGO in the reference financial model;
- about 80% of AGGR – the operator's share, before its own costs and tax obligations.
Separately, the operator must assess the tax regime that applies to the company, including corporate income tax and HST treatment. Plan on 4–9 months, covering documentation, AGCO review, the iGO agreement and technical readiness. Operators must meet AGCO standards on responsible gambling, advertising, system security and player protection, including integration with the centralized self-exclusion system BetGuard, live since 14 May 2026.
Important: an AGCO registration on its own does not entitle you to launch. You also need the iGO operating agreement and the applicable operational requirements in place.
Other provinces are following Ontario's model: Alberta ended its transition on 13 October 2026 with 29 operators approved, and New Brunswick is reviewing private online gambling. An Ontario registration does not carry over to either.
Ontario at a glance
- Regulator
- Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)
- Contractual counterparty
- iGaming Ontario (iGO), a standalone provincial agency since 12 May 2025
- Regulated market open since
- 4 April 2022
- Instruments
- AGCO registration (operator or regulated supplier) + iGO operating agreement (operators)
- Market size
- About CAD 2.9bn adjusted gross gaming revenue in FY2024-25 from about 50 operators (iGO publishes monthly performance data)
- Advertising
- Since 28 February 2024 AGCO standards restrict the use of athletes and certain public figures in online gambling advertising, particularly where they may appeal to people under the legal age
- Self-exclusion
- Since 14 May 2026 Ontario runs BetGuard, the centralized self-exclusion system for iGaming Ontario platforms
Is Ontario the right license for you?
A good fit when
- You want a large, regulated North American market with a clear rulebook
- Your financial model works after the revenue-sharing mechanism is applied
- You have regulated-market experience or the resources to build an adequate compliance system
Look elsewhere when
- You want low fixed costs — CAD 100,000 per site is due every year
- Your marketing depends on practices AGCO standards restrict (for example, athlete endorsements)
AGCO registrations and iGO agreements
| License | Who needs it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AGCO registration – internet gaming operator | B2C operators | Registration under the regulatory regime; confirms the operator's eligibility, subject to conditions. CAD 100,000 per gaming site per year |
| AGCO registration – gaming-related supplier | Platform providers, game developers and suppliers, aggregators | Suppliers whose services fall into AGCO-regulated categories need the matching registration; whether you need it depends on your actual activity, technology role and category. Fee by category |
| iGO operating agreement | Registered operators | Operating contract setting the commercial relationship, market participation terms and the revenue-sharing mechanism |
Registration fees, revenue sharing and taxes
| Charge | Amount | When | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| AGCO annual registration – operator | CAD 100,000 | Per gaming site, per year | AGCO fee schedule |
| Share of relevant revenue to iGO | ≈ 20% of AGGR | Recurring, under the operating agreement | iGO operating agreement; ≈ 80% stays with the operator |
| AGCO registration – supplier | By category | Per registration term | AGCO fee schedule |
In the reference financial model, adjusted gross gaming revenue (AGGR) is split between the operator and iGaming Ontario under the operating agreement: about 20% to iGO and about 80% to the operator, subject to the contractual definitions, adjustments and conditions. This contractual share is not a GGR tax.
Tax
- Revenue sharing and gaming tax
- In this provincial model the main revenue-sharing mechanism is set by the iGO agreement, and no separate provincial tax on gaming revenue applies within it. It must still be assessed separately from corporate income tax, HST treatment and the operator's other tax or contractual obligations.
- Corporate income tax
- For companies under the general corporate tax regime the combined reference rate can be 26.5% (15% federal and 11.5% Ontario). The effective rate depends on tax residence, the nature of the income, deductions and the applicable rules.
Legal framework
| Instrument | What it does for you |
|---|---|
| Gaming Control Act, 1992 (Ontario) | Registration framework |
| Registrar's Standards for Internet Gaming | Operating, player protection and advertising standards |
| Criminal Code s.207 | Model under which provinces conduct and manage gaming |
Eligibility and operational compliance requirements
- AGCO registration of the operator and review of relevant owners and managers
- Operating agreement with iGaming Ontario
- Games and technical systems tested and certified to the applicable requirements
- AML procedures and reporting to FINTRAC where applicable
- Integration with the BetGuard centralized self-exclusion system
Entity types, capital, local agents, tax and timing: Canada company formation.
How to get a Ontario license
- Month 1
Eligibility assessment
We review the corporate structure, beneficial owners, management, financial position and planned activities, and identify the AGCO requirements and the conditions for an iGaming Ontario agreement.
- Months 1–2
Prepare the registration file
Corporate documents, financial information, personal disclosures and compliance policies, plus a gap analysis of existing controls against AGCO standards to identify any remediation.
- Month 2
File on iAGCO
The registration application is submitted through the iAGCO portal with supporting documents and proof of fee payment.
- Months 2–6
Applicant review
AGCO reviews the applicant's integrity and capacity, ownership, beneficial owners and compliance documentation, and may request further information.
- Parallel
iGaming Ontario agreement
Alongside or after the relevant AGCO stages, the operator completes the formalities for the iGO operating agreement, which sets the commercial terms, reporting and financial obligations.
- Months 5–8
Certification and technical integration
Game and system testing, reporting integration and connection to the BetGuard self-exclusion system.
- Months 4–9
Launch
Operations can start once AGCO registration is complete, the iGO agreement conditions are met and operational readiness is confirmed.
- Ongoing
Ongoing compliance
Continued compliance with AGCO standards, iGO contractual obligations and rules on responsible gambling, data protection, AML and reporting. The 4–9 month estimate is not a guaranteed timeline.
Document checklist
AGCO registration
- Entity and ownership information
- Individual and corporate disclosure forms
- Financial statements
- Gap analysis of existing internal controls against AGCO standards, with a remediation plan where needed
iGO operating agreement
- Documents requested by iGaming Ontario to conclude the operating agreement
- Financial reporting arrangements
Operational implementation
- Responsible-gambling and AML policies
- Testing and certification reports for games and systems
- BetGuard integration
Ongoing obligations after AGCO registration and launch
Annual fee
CAD 100,000 per site.
Revenue sharing
Periodic settlement with iGO under the operating agreement.
Standards
Registrar's Standards for Internet Gaming, advertising rules and BetGuard self-exclusion obligations.
Ontario compared with Alberta and other regimes
| Ontario | Alberta | Kahnawake | Malta | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual license fees | CAD 100,000 per site | CAD 150,000 per site | US$20,000 | €25,000 + contribution (min €15,000) |
| Tax on GGR | ≈ 20% of AGGR to iGO (contractual share, not a tax) | 3% of GGR + 20% of net revenue to the province (≈ 22.4% of GGR) | 0% stated KGC levy on GGR | 15% / 10% on players in Malta |
| Time to license | 4–9 months | 4–6 months | 2–3 months | 4–6 months |
| Local substance | AGCO registration + iGO agreement | AGLC registration + AiGC agreement | MIT hosting | MT company, key functions, system audit |
| Status | Provincial (Canada) | Provincial (Canada) | Separate authorization regime (Kahnawake Gaming Commission) | EU regulator |
All jurisdictions side by side, with filters: compare gambling license jurisdictions. How we run an application: gambling consulting services.
Written and reviewed by Alex Szilaghi
Founder of Szilaghi Consulting, licensing gambling businesses since 2004 across EU, UK, Canadian and offshore jurisdictions, based in Romania and working before ONJN on Class 1 and Class 2 files. We act as Romanian representative and local director for foreign ONJN licensees and file their monthly regulatory reports, so these guides reflect how the rules are applied in practice, not only how they read.
Last legal review . Current to the AGCO framework as of the review date. General information, not legal advice.
Ontario gambling license — FAQs
How much does an Ontario igaming license cost?
AGCO operator registration is CAD 100,000 per gaming site per year. Separately, the iGaming Ontario operating agreement sets the revenue split: in the reference financial model about 20% of adjusted gross gaming revenue (AGGR) goes to iGO and about 80% to the operator.
Do I need both AGCO and iGaming Ontario?
Yes. They are separate instruments: AGCO registration confirms eligibility, and the iGO agreement sets the commercial relationship and market participation terms. AGCO registration alone does not let you launch.
Do suppliers need to register?
Suppliers whose services fall into AGCO-regulated categories need the matching registration. Whether you need one depends on your actual activity, technology role and category.
Does a Kahnawake license cover Ontario?
No. Offering gambling to Ontario players requires AGCO registration and an iGO operating agreement.
Sources
Figures were checked against the regulator and legislation listed below on 13 October 2026. Fees, tax rates and restricted-market lists change; confirm with us before you commit capital.
Find out if Ontario fits before you pay a fee
We assess eligibility, structure the company, prepare the documentation and coordinate the AGCO and iGO processes. We estimate total costs and first-year funding needs.
Book a Ontario license assessment