Ontario’s fall 2024 budget measures introduced in October included a provision that could see a seismic change to gaming regulation in the province.
While Bill 216, the Building Ontario For You Act, 2014, adjusted the province’s expectations for net profit from gaming as part of its 2024 fiscal review and future outlook, it also introduced Schedule 9 which concerns the status and operation of iGaming Ontario (iGO).
This provision will allow iGaming Ontario to breakaway from its parent organisation, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), ending the two firms’ parent-subsidiary relationship.
Since iGO began operations in July 2021, the organisation has been a subsidiary of the AGCO under the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario Act, 2019.
Yet as a result of Schedule 9, iGO will become an entirely standalone corporation without share capital. iGO specified that it will be a fully independent board-governed agency.
Bill 216 passed first reading third reading on 6 November and received Royal Assent the same day. The iGaming Ontario Act will be proclaimed in early 2025, a representative from the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General told Canadian Gaming Business.
This spokesperson also told the publication that this change has been introduced to address a concern of a conflict of interest raised by Ontario’s Auditor General.
“Once proclaimed, the Act would also dissolve the parent-subsidiary relationship between AGCO and iGO,” confirmed the spokesperson of Doug Downey‘s office.
“This change would strengthen iGO’s governance and accountability structure and contribute to the continued success of Ontario’s thriving igaming market by positioning the agency as a competitive employer and addressing a conflict-of-interest concern raised by the Auditor General.”
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has reported record participation for its fourth annual European Safer Gambling Week.
The 2024 campaign took place between 18 and 24 November across social media and with special events, highlighting safer gambling messaging and resources and encouraging industry collaboration.
The EGBA noted that European Safer Gambling Week 2024 achieved record participation with 195 partners, up 20% compared to 2023. Eight national gambling authorities took part, more than double the previous year, by participating in the social media campaign or speaking at events.
In total, the campaign reached 26 countries, a 30% increase year-over-year, with partners in Croatia, Serbia, Slovakia and Ukraine joining for the first time. Social media graphics were also available in the local languages of 27 countries.
The full list of participating countries included: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and Ukraine.
“The success of this year’s edition reflects the sector’s deepening commitment to player protection,” commented Maarten Haijer, Secretary General at the EGBA.
“The significant increase in participation, especially from health organisations and regulatory authorities, demonstrates the common purpose and growing unity in our approach to safer gambling.
Across social media platforms Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X, the European Safer Gambling Week campaign reached 3.1 million users and generated 1,169 posts, up 67% from the previous year.
20 specialised events also took place, an 11% increase from 2023. With 4,500 registrations and 3,000 attendees, these events explored trends in AI, problem gambling prevalence reporting and innovations in safer gambling tools and messaging.
105 speakers participated in these events, including senior representatives from gambling authorities in Belgium, Denmark, France and the UK.
Haijer continued: “Through this collaboration, we’ve reached a record number of Europeans with crucial safety messages during the campaign. Together, we’re making gambling safer and we already look forward to building on this success in next year’s edition.”
