You might be wondering what is meant by the “Grey Market” when referring to online casinos and how they are different than other online casinos. And more importantly, why should you care?
“Grey Market” refers to unregulated gaming sites, meaning that they are not registered within a particular jurisdiction and therefore do not abide by the same rules and regulations of regulated casinos within that jurisdiction. In Ontario, for example, Grey Market sites may be regulated somewhere in the world but not by the province so players gambling on those sites may not have the same protections offered by regulated sites.
Ontario opened its regulated igaming market on April 4, 2022, which enabled private operators of sportsbooks and online casinos to become “white-market operators” and legally accept wagers from residents of Ontario. To do so, operators must first gain the approval of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO), a regulator, and iGaming Ontario (iGO), a government agency and the legal manage and conduct entity within Ontario.
In setting up this new framework, the government of Ontario was able to shift out-of-province and off-shore wagering into a channel that the government can tax and oversee. Ontario has a process that permits Grey Market operators to transition to regulated operators which requires them to stop any unregulated activity in the province.
According to the AGCO, the regulations implemented by Ontario, allow Ontarians to play on world-class gaming sites with the assurance that these sites are closely monitored for game integrity, player protections and responsible operations.
“The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has developed strong rules that gambling sites, and sport event betting sites have to follow to promote responsible gambling, protect vulnerable people, like youth and self-excluded players, and enhance game integrity,” states the AGCO website. Players who want to ensure they are playing on a regulated site can look for the iGaming Ontario logo.
Playing on a regulated site, such as Casino Time, is a safer choice when betting in Ontario. Here are some of the benefits of playing on a regulated site:
For more information on igaming regulation in Ontario, check out the AGCO’s website for Player Support and Information.
