Inspired joins licensed iGaming suppliers for Ontario's upcoming market

Inspired Entertainment announced Thursday it has received a gaming-related supplier license from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and plans to launch its portfolio of iGaming products in Ontario early in the second quarter of 2022. 

This license authorizes Inspired to offer its games to AGCO-approved operators serving the province of Ontario. Inspired will have 25 games certified in time for the market launch including titles such as "Big Spin Bonus", "Big Fishing Fortune" and retro classic "Space Invaders". 

Inspired already has a presence in Canada: Loto-Québec, a long-time customer, currently offers Inspired’s Interactive casino content on its online gaming website. 

Claire Osborne, VP Interactive at Inspired, spoke about the Ontario license and said: “Ontario’s iGaming market officially opens to licensed operators on April 4, 2022, and we couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the newly regulated iGaming market.  With a population of nearly 15 million people, Ontario’s demographics compare favorably to states like New Jersey or Michigan where we already operate.  We expect Ontario to present a significant market opportunity for us, and we look forward to players in Ontario enjoying our games.”

Less than a month away from Ontario’s online gaming market launch, the province regulator has issued a new guidance warning operators in the process of securing a license to cease unregulated activities when the market opens on April 4.

This week, companies such as bet365 have received a key approval from AGCO to legally take bets in the province as soon as the jurisdiction begins its iGaming operations. In parallel, the regulator has issued new guidance warning operators in the process of securing a license to cease unregulated activities when the market opens on April 4. 

AGCO first confirmed licensed operators were Penn National Gaming’s subsidiary theScore Bet, Rivalry Corp and PointsBet. FansUnite and Rush Street Interactive joined the list last week. Israel-based 888 followed, right before GGPoker was granted a license to launch a WSOP.ca poker site in the province. 

So far, WSOP/GGPoker and 888 are the first two poker operators to receive such authorization. Bet365, LeoVegas and supplier Play'n GO were the last ones to receive approvals for the market.

The launch of the new online gaming market in Ontario was announced by iGaming Ontario and AGCO, in a joint effort that seeks to establish a new market that will help protect consumers and provide more choice. 

Private gaming operators registered with the AGCO that have executed an operating agreement with iGO can begin offering their games to players in Ontario as from the launching date. Companies will operate gaming sites in the market on behalf of the province in accordance with these agreements. 

The Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) also recently announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA), with the purpose of providing a framework for cooperation and coordination between both entities on betting and related integrity issues to protect the Ontario and wider Canadian market, sports, consumers and regulated betting operators from corrupt activities.