The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has revised its responsible gambling (RG) training requirements for employees within the province’s gaming and lottery industries. Effective July 10, 2025, operators are no longer obligated to obtain Registrar approval for their RG training programs.
This regulatory adjustment, impacting both Gaming and Lottery Standards, eliminates the prior approval process stipulated under Standard 2.5. While mandatory RG training remains in effect, the AGCO now allows operators greater flexibility in curriculum development and revisions, contingent upon adherence to industry best practices and effective employee preparation in identifying and addressing problem gambling.
The AGCO emphasizes that training must equip employees to understand their role in promoting responsible gaming and assisting patrons exhibiting potential gambling problems. Importantly, this modification extends to Ontario’s iGaming operators, ensuring consistent RG expectations across online and land-based sectors.
The AGCO asserts that this update streamlines administrative procedures while upholding robust player protection standards. In their official bulletin, the Commission stated that the change reduces bureaucratic obstacles, stimulates innovation, and maintains Ontario’s high standards for player safety.
This decision follows a series of recent enforcement actions by the AGCO, including a CA$350,000 (US$255,515) penalty imposed on a casino in June for a high-risk event on its premises. This incident underscored deficiencies in staff preparedness and reporting procedures – areas typically covered in RG and compliance training.
Ontario Lottery and Gaming’s established PlaySmart RG training program continues to meet the revised standards. The AGCO clarified that this revision aligns with its outcomes-based regulatory approach, prioritizing demonstrable results over prescriptive regulations and aiming for uniformity across retail, online, and charitable gaming sectors.
