What Ontario’s New Centralized Self-Exclusion Means for Online Gamblers

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario announced it will be changing the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming as it aims to launch a province-wide self exclusion register in 2026. The bulletin was published on December 18 and it stated that the changes to the iGaming standard would go live when the Centralized Self Exclusion, or CSE, program is made available for players. The exact date was not mentioned, only that the timing will be communicated closer to the launch of this program.

For players, it represents a positive update. Self exclusion right now is only site-based, so you can voluntarily request to have time off from one iGaming site, but still have access to all the others. A regulated self exclusion register would require all the licensed Ontario iGaming sites to run every player’s credentials through the system, and block any self excluded gamers from signing up to their platform. There are many precedents for this player protection system, and it adds to the many changes that the ACGO has introduced in 2025.

Ontario’s CSE – What We Know

Ontario’s Centralized Self Exclusion program will come out in 2026, under Standard 2.14, and all licensed iGaming sites in Ontario will need to comply with this system. While it will take over precedent of the previous, standalone self exclusion systems, these will still continue, honoring all existing self exclusion agreements that will overlap with the new system when it is launched.

The new CSE will include self exclusion for 3 term options:

• 6 months
• 1 year
• 5 years

Should a player self exclude, the operators will have to stop sending any advertising content and refund any outstanding wagers to the player’s wallet within 24 hours of the self exclusion going live. iGaming Ontario will maintain the CSE registry, and all operators have to comply with this register. They also have to promote the CSE on their sites, to spread awareness of responsible gambling to players.

As a gamer or sports bettor in Ontario, all you need to know about this program is that:

• It is free to register
• You are not mandated to register
• You cannot register on someone else’s behalf
• Registration will most likely include ID verification

A lot of countries have similar programs in place, perhaps the most well known is the UK’s GamStop, which all licensed online casinos and sportsbooks in the UK have to comply with.

Examples of Regulated Self Exclusion Programs Elsewhere

Ontario’s CSE will most likely reflect a lot of existing centralized systems. Most of these systems only cover iGaming, which spans the entirety of online casinos, online sports betting, peer to peer betting platforms, online poker, and more. Some also extend to landbased casino gaming, but it is not common. Ontario’s CSE will only cover iGaming at first, though it hasn’t ruled out the option of extending the CSE to landbased Canadian casinos as well.

• United Kingdom: GAMSTOP (iGaming only)
• Sweden: Spelpaus (iGaming + landbased)
• Denmark: ROFUS (iGaming + landbased)
• Spain: RGIAJ (iGaming + landbased)
• Netherlands: Cruks (iGaming + landbased)
• Italy: National Self-Exclusion Register (iGaming + landbased)
• Australia: State-based systems (mainly land-based gambling)

Spain will introduce AI player monitoring to detect risky behaviors and potential problem gamblers. In the UK, the UKGC is continuously updating its player safety protocols, most recently introducing consumer control limits, limit rollover requirements for bonus funds, light touch financial vulnerability checks and risk assessments for players exceeding specified limits. Sweden recently rolled out a ban on credit cards and “buy now pay later” gaming deposits, in an attempt to cut public debt and make sure players don’t overspend on their gaming.

Foundational Changes to Ontario’s iGaming

The Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming was established by the ACGO back in 2021, and went into effect on April 4, 2022, when Ontario’s iGaming market was launched. This is essentially the playbook for iGaming operators and gamers alike, and it has undergone numerous changes since it was first published. In 2022, the standards were amended to cover live dealer games. 2023-24 saw many advertising and marketing restrictions strengthened. These banned the use of cartoon characters, social influencers, celebrities and active or former athletes in gambling ads, to ensure young people weren’t targeted.

This year, we have seen a number of cybersecurity policies, disclosure protocols for relationships with high risk jurisdictions, and laws that add transparency for iGaming platform ownership and any third party vendors or providers. These aim to make the platforms more transparent for gamers and lawmakers alike, complying with anti money laundering policies and ensuring the players know exactly who they are signing up to.

iGaming Ontario Becomes Independent from ACGO

iGaming Ontario was also transformed into an independent agency on May 12, 2025. That means, separating the ACGO, which is in charge of generating revenue from the iGaming sector, from the actual regulators, the iGO. The iGO is no longer a subsidiary of the ACGO, but now it reports directly to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

This basically means that the powers regulating iGaming in Ontario are not also claiming revenue from the active operators and software providers. This means there is no overlap or conflict of interest between the regulator body and the market operator. Plus, it means iGaming Ontario can move more quickly on issuing licenses, making commercial amendments and setting market expansion initiatives.

It also rolled out the following reforms this year:

• Enhanced Responsible Gambling Measures: The ACGO strengthened player protection requirements with more proactive monitoring and intervention initiatives
• Stronger KYC and Age Verification Policies: The laws on identity verification and age checks are tightened to prevent underage gamblers
• Updated Responsible Gambling Training Standards: Greater flexibility was added to the mandatory RG training, so operators can specialize their staff
• Cross Border iGaming Opportunities: Opening the doors for Ontario gamers to play online against peers in other countries – revolutionary for the online poker scene

Ontario iGaming 2025: A Year in Review

2025 was a strong year for Ontario as it broke monthly wagering and revenue records repeatedly, and enhanced its player protection laws. Ontario has been praised in the past for its player-centric market, and for being one of the most reliable jurisdictions for online gamers. And from 2026, Ontario won’t be alone.

Alberta is also going to enter the open market, launching its own iGaming in 2026. The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission announced big additions to Play Alberta in October, as the province’s sole distributor prepares for the state run monopoly to end. Alberta has a lot to learn, but with Ontario providing a glowing example, it too could end up becoming one of the most respected and safe jurisdictions for online gamers.

Ontario is currently leading the Canadian iGaming sector, and it doesn’t look like it will give that up in the short term future. But with Alberta following suit, it could perhaps motivate the likes of British Columbia or Quebec, who could give Ontario a real run for its money.