Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, Stan Cho, announced a comprehensive review of the province’s gaming industry during a keynote address at the Canadian Gaming Summit. The initiative will assess both online and land-based gambling sectors, with a focus on modernizing regulations, improving efficiency, and enhancing economic contributions.
Cho said the province is doing well but can aim higher. “Ontario is very much a pioneer and a leader in this sector,” he said. “I think we’re doing a fantastic job of balancing those important revenues with also making sure we continue to invest in safe and responsible play.” But he also acknowledged, “We have challenges and, of course, we also have opportunities to improve. That’s why we’re doing this gaming review.”
Balancing Online Growth with Land-Based Relevance
Ontario’s gambling landscape has transformed significantly in the past few years. The legalization of single-event sports betting in 2021 followed by the launch of regulated iGaming in 2022 reshaped what had been a primarily land-based market. Cho highlighted that the province’s fast-changing gaming environment has introduced evolving challenges: “We are seeing iGaming continue to grow, we are seeing the gaming appetites continue to evolve, and we need to monitor these changes carefully and be very adaptive.”
Despite the digital surge, Cho emphasized the enduring importance of brick-and-mortar establishments. He mentioned retail casinos and sportsbooks several times, noting they remain “an important piece of the puzzle.” One example he gave was the need for a unified self-exclusion system, which would link both physical and digital gambling environments across all platforms.
Efforts to Reduce Duplication and Regulatory Burden
A central aim of the review is to streamline regulatory oversight and eliminate redundant processes. Paul Burns, President and CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association, voiced strong support for Cho’s initiative, citing the operational challenges posed by Ontario’s dual-layer regulatory framework. Operators must report to both the conduct-and-manage agency iGaming Ontario (iGO) and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), often duplicating efforts with inconsistent formats and timelines.
“These are the kinds of quick wins that stakeholders believe can be achieved in collaboration with the Minister over the coming year,” said Burns.
While the review is still in its early stages, discussions with industry professionals are ongoing.
iGO Now Operates Independently, But Collaboration Remains Key
Another recent shift highlighted at the summit was the formal separation of iGO from AGCO, giving iGO full agency status. This change enables more agile responses to market shifts. “The time is right,” said Cho. “The gaming environment is evolving both on the land-based side and on the iGaming side, and that’s why those two agencies [iGO and OLG] need to be close to each other, but also need to be separated and autonomous so that we have the ability to move quickly and be adaptable.”
Commitment to Stakeholder-Led Policy Making
Cho concluded his remarks: “You have my word that we will work with you as industry partners to make sure that decisions make sense based on expertise, not on speculation and not on a politician’s whim.”
He added, “Regulation is important. Red tape is a disaster for prosperity and growth.”
Source:
“CGS: Ontario gambling minister announces plan for sweeping gaming review”, canadiangamingbusiness.com, Jun 19, 2025
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