Ontario iGaming gets the green light to go global

The Ontario Court of Appeal (OCAO) released a landmark 4-1 advisory opinion confirming that Ontario's regulated iGaming operators can lawfully permit cross-border online gambling with international players.

This decision is a major win for player choice, competition, and the overall health of the market, specifically setting the stage for bigger prizes and better contests in games like online poker.

What the court ruled and why it matters

The ruling was an answer to a reference question submitted by the Ministry of the Attorney General in 2024, which sought clarity on a fundamental legal point: could the province's lottery scheme manage games that involve players outside of Canada?

The majority opinion confirmed that Ontario's regulated framework, overseen by iGaming Ontario (iGO), is lawful under the Criminal Code of Canada, Section 207(1)(a). The court reasoned that as long as the province’s licensed operators manage the conduct of the game in compliance with local law, it falls within provincial jurisdiction.

A crucial condition, however, remains: the ruling does not permit inter-provincial play with the rest of Canada unless formal agreements are established with those jurisdictions.

So for now, systems must be put in place to ensure players outside Ontario, but within Canada, are still blocked.

A game-changer for poker and tournaments

Since the regulated iGaming market launched in 2022, the requirement for local-only player pools has severely limited P2P games. Put simply, there weren't enough players to generate meaningful prize money, making the platforms uncompetitive against the global grey market.

This lack of competitive mass has impacted several sectors.

For online poker, the low volume meant cash games were scarce and tournament prize pools were often unsatisfying. This meant the games contribute only about 2% of Ontario's total iGaming revenue, which has seen an overall surge in recent months.

Similarly, bingo rooms and peer-to-peer betting exchanges struggled to generate the high volume of participants needed for large, exciting jackpots and active markets.

By pooling players internationally, operators can now instantly offer larger tournaments and bigger prize pots, fundamentally improving the gaming experience and drawing back high-profile companies.

Type of game	Old reality (Isolated)	New reality (Global)
Online poker	Small prize pools, limited game variety and opponents.	Bigger prize pools, more game options, and global competitors.
Bingo rooms	Smaller player numbers result in lower jackpots.	Access to vast player pools, offering much larger jackpot prizes.

What it means for players in Ontario and abroad

For current Ontario players, the benefit is immediate and tangible.

They gain access to a global ecosystem, which translates directly into more opponents, faster action, and, most importantly, much larger prizes in poker and bingo. This is the official end of the frustrating 'small-pool' dynamic.

For international players, they will connect through the same Ontario-licensed platforms but will use separate systems and remain regulated by the laws of their home countries.

Ontario’s framework ensures the games are managed locally, but it does not assume regulatory authority over the foreign player's jurisdiction.

The hurdles ahead

The court has given the green light, but the road to an international player pool is not yet finished.

Key policies need to be addressed

Before the global games can go live, significant policy work is required. Key issues to be addressed by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) include:

• Negotiating and finalising legal agreements with international jurisdictions (covering tax reporting, revenue sharing, and data exchange).

• Implementing strict technical solutions to safely separate player pools and manage cross-border compliance (e.g., Anti-Money Laundering/Know Your Customer).

A national precedent

The decision also creates a national precedent. While provinces like British Columbia and Quebec maintain government monopolies, a successful, competitive Ontario market could put economic pressure on them to explore similar open models or inter-provincial partnerships.

The opposition

Further, the legal battle may still not be completely won. The Canadian Lottery Coalition (CLC), which opposed the ruling, has 30 days to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Canada. The industry now holds its breath, waiting for the final legal decision before opening its doors to the world.

Seat at the international table

The court has validated Ontario’s vision for a highly competitive, regulated iGaming market. This ruling is a victory for fairness and player choice, promising to revitalise P2P games like poker and bingo. Now, the government must move from legal clarity to operational reality, ensuring Ontario players can soon take their seats at the international table.