Ontario’s appellate court recently concluded a three-day hearing to determine whether residents of the province should be allowed to compete with players from other well-regulated jurisdictions globally without violating Canadian provincial or federal laws. This issue, unresolved for over two years, centers around the growing question of online player pooling, which has been in legal limbo since the introduction of iGaming Ontario’s regulatory regime.
The Debate Over Player Pooling
The discussions arose after Ontario’s new iGaming framework allowed players to compete against others within the province and other regulated provinces. However, there has been a lack of clarity regarding international player pooling, as Ontario remains the only Canadian province to fully regulate online gambling. As Ontario’s gambling operators have expanded, questions have surfaced about whether players from Ontario should be permitted to pool with those in other countries with similarly regulated online gambling markets.
During the hearings, iGaming Ontario (iGO), which is the charter licensee under the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), argued in favor of international player pooling. They were supported by Ontario’s Office of the Attorney General, the Canadian Gaming Association, and various online poker and Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) providers, all of whom seek legal clarity to expand their operations and player pools beyond Ontario.
Opposition to International Player Pooling
On the other side of the argument, the Canadian Lottery Coalition (CLC) and the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) have strongly opposed the idea. The CLC argues that allowing Ontario to pool players internationally could open the door to illicit gambling traffic from other arzimasks.com best-restaurants-in-marrakech.com capitalator.com cyclehousefamily.com dowdingshop.com provinces, and it has previously issued cease-and-desist notices to several Ontario-licensed operators. The MCK, which has been involved in online gambling through its Mohawk Internet Technologies entity, claims that Ontario’s regulatory framework is illegal, and extending player pooling internationally would only expand these illicit operations.
The MCK, which operates independently from Quebec and Canada under tribal sovereignty, has long been at odds with Canadian authorities regarding online gaming. It has argued that Ontario’s attempts to expand player pooling would violate the current legal structure and push gambling outside the province’s regulatory boundaries.
What’s at Stake and What’s Next?
The appellate court panel, headed by Chief Justice Michael Tulloch, has reserved its decision, which may not be delivered until 2025. In the meantime, Ontario’s online poker and DFS markets remain restricted, with some of the industry’s largest operators offering limited services to the province’s players. If the court rules in favor of allowing international player pooling, it could spark significant changes, particularly for DFS and poker, revitalizing markets across Canada.
As Alberta and British Columbia are reportedly nearing the approval of their own iGaming frameworks, a ruling in favor of player pooling could accelerate the growth of online gambling across the country, attracting new players and boosting industry growth. The coming decision holds immense potential, not just for Ontario but for the future of iGaming in Canada as a whole.