iGaming Ontario (iGO) President and CEO Joseph Hillier is preparing for a pivotal year as Ontario approaches the fourth anniversary of its regulated online gambling market. Leading initiatives from a centralized self-exclusion platform to enhanced anti-money laundering measures, Hillier anticipates that 2026 could mark a turning point for provincial iGaming.
Ontario’s $9 billion online gaming sector continues to grow steadily. A recent Court of Appeal decision in November clarified that the province can legally allow players of peer-to-peer (P2P) games, such as online poker and daily fantasy sports (DFS), to compete with participants in other countries, creating a pathway for cross-border play.
Exploring new frontiers for P2P iGaming
Hillier, who previously served as chief of staff to Attorney General Doug Downey, said the court ruling opens significant possibilities. “Like so many, I’m excited at the possibilities offered by the decision,” he said. “We’re still in an appeal period, but credit to Attorney General Downey for bringing that question forward. I think it shows a commitment on the government’s part to continue to push the boundaries and deliver on the promise of what this market could be, and what potentially could come next.”
Currently, DFS remains virtually nonexistent in Ontario, while ring-fenced online poker contributes roughly 1.5% of monthly handle and gross gaming revenue. Advocates, including the Canadian Gaming Association, argue that expanding cross-border play could offer consumers more options and provide a legal alternative to unregulated platforms.
Considering international models
Hillier pointed to gaming agreements in Europe and the U.S.-only Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) as examples of successful multi-jurisdictional frameworks. “We’ve been thinking about it a lot, as you can probably imagine,” he said. “It’s been a hot topic in all quarters and joining the agency, it was one of the first things on my list to assess our options, the plans we’ve got and the conversations we can have. The mechanics, a lot of that will be conversations with our government partners, our ministry colleagues, and understanding the government’s overall priorities.”
While poker and DFS were specifically identified in the court reference as eligible for cross-border integration, Hillier indicated that other products could also be explored. “There’s definitely an eagerness to move things along as quickly as possible. But at the same time, it’s understanding where the true opportunities are. Peer-to-peer poker is something that people have spoken about, daily fantasy, maybe even super progressive jackpots on the casino side.”
Provincial cooperation could expand liquidity
The court highlighted that a pooled-liquidity model would be lawful if multiple provinces agreed, effectively qualifying as a lottery scheme under the Criminal Code. Ontario remains Canada’s only open regulated iGaming market, but Alberta is preparing to enter the space. Hillier noted that collaboration between provinces could create additional opportunities for cross-jurisdictional play. “Everybody’s eagerly watching to see how Alberta’s plans progress, including us. Once they’re in a position to explore those possibilities, we are also,” he said.
As Ontario continues to refine its iGaming strategy, Hillier and iGO aim to ensure any expansion maintains flexibility, allowing the province to adapt to evolving market conditions and maximize player choice while mitigating unregulated alternatives.
Source:
“iGO CEO says Ontario ready to push boundaries on cross-border play”, canadiangamingbusiness.com, December 11, 2025
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