Ontario’s Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO), the provincial gambling regulator, has made several changes to its regulatory framework in anticipation of iGaming Ontario’s new Centralised Self-Exclusion (CSE) system, which is scheduled to launch in 2026. The reforms introduce new requirements for remote gambling operators as well as formal recognition of iGaming Ontario’s role in administering Ontario’s centralised self-exclusion database.
Ontario Gambling Regulator Updates Operational Guidelines: A Quick Summary
- iGaming Ontario is developing a new CSE standard, making minor changes to existing standards, and establishing new terms and definitions. For example, it has redefined the terms “person” and “registry” for clarity.
- All licensed operators in Ontario’s regulated iGaming market will be required to promote the CSE program on their platforms. Individuals will be able to voluntarily self-exclude for durations ranging from six months to five years.
- Once a player signs up for self-exclusion, operators will have 24 hours to take reasonable measures to prevent individuals from participating in games of chance or receiving marketing materials and incentives.
AGCO Confirms Regulatory Reforms Ahead of 2026 CSE Launch
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, in a press release on Thursday, December 18, announced changes to the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming. The reforms have been made in preparation for iGaming Ontario’s long-awaited centralised self-exclusion system, which will be implemented in 2026.
The program will allow consumers to voluntarily self-exclude from online casinos in Ontario through a single, unified registration process. Currently, gambling operators maintain self-exclusion databases limited to their own platforms. The CSE program will replace this fragmented approach with a central registry accessible to all regulated operators in the province.
The CSE framework is intended to strengthen consumer protection by creating consistent safeguards across Ontario’s regulated iGaming market. In addition to incorporating the new CSE framework, operators will continue to maintain individual self-exclusion programs, accept new registrations, and honour existing self-exclusion agreements.
An excerpt from the AGCO’s press release read:
Our standards aim to minimise the risk of harm and protect vulnerable individuals while supporting responsible access to safer, regulated online gaming.
The AGCO will publish the updated standards when the CSE platform goes live and will conduct a review of the program after 12 months from the launch of the centralised self-exclusion system. Proposed amendments to the Registrar’s Standards of Internet Gaming include:
- Developing a new Centralised Self-Exclusion standard
- Introducing updated terms and definitions related to CSE, including “person” and “registry”
- Making minor changes made to related standards
iGaming Ontario Granted Program Administration Clearance
Under the updated framework, iGaming Ontario will administer the Centralised Self-Exclusion program and maintain the registry, while AGCO retains its role as the regulator. iGaming Ontario will oversee the registration process, define program terms and conditions, outline the consequences of exclusion, and establish procedures for a safe return to play following the completion of a self-exclusion period.
The program will offer three self-exclusion timelines: six months, one year, and five years. Players who opt into the self-exclusion program must be added to the CSE registry promptly and operators will be required to take all necessary measures to prevent them from receiving marketing communications, including promotions, and playing games of chance.
Licensed operators will also be required to return unused funds to players once their names have been added to the registry, and they must prohibit them from creating new accounts on the gaming platform. The AGCO has clarified the meaning of specific terms to avoid confusion.
The press release reads:
- Centralised Self-Exclusion Program: The Centralised Self-Exclusion Program is a program, administered by iGaming Ontario, via which Ontario players may voluntarily self-exclude from all regulated iGaming sites in Ontario through a single registration process.
- Centrally Self-Excluded Person: Centrally Self-Excluded Persons are individuals who, at any given time, appear on the Centralised Self-Exclusion Registry.
- Centralised Self-Exclusion Registry: The Centralised Self-Exclusion Registry, maintained by iGaming Ontario, is a repository of all the individuals who have voluntarily enrolled in the Centralised Self-Exclusion Program.
iGaming Ontario CEO Highlights Importance of Market-Wide Participation
iGaming Ontario’s President and CEO, Joseph Hillier, acknowledged the necessity of the CSE system and noted that it was long overdue. He confirmed that the database will be implemented in 2026, and emphasised that full operator participation will be critical for its success.
Hillier stated:
I think there’s a recognition that we’re overdue for this system. We’re pretty confident that midway through next year, we’ll be in a position to do our public launch. Ensuring all operators are participating in this program is critical. Ultimately, if we don’t have all the operators included, we don’t have a centralised self-exclusion program.
The CEO observed that the existing self-exclusion system in Ontario is pretty fragmented and said iGaming Ontario is working closely with individual operators to ensure that the central database does not disrupt existing self-exclusion agreements.
Hillier added:
The data situations of operators could differ very significantly from one to the other, so we’ve really tried to take that direct engagement and one-on-one approach to find what works and what doesn’t.
iGaming Ontario is responsible for conducting and managing Ontario’s regulated online gambling market. According to its market performance data from November 2025, online casino products generated the maximum revenue, followed by sports betting and peer-to-peer (P2P) poker.
With the Centralised Self-Exclusion system set to launch in 2026, industry stakeholders will be closely monitoring its impact on player protection standards and market performance across Ontario’s regulated iGaming sector.