Ontario gambling operators will no longer need the provincial regulator to sign off on their responsible gambling training.
In an update posted on Friday, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) noted it has amended its RG training standards for employees in the gaming and lottery sectors. Henceforth, operators will not need to seek approval from the Registrar for training programs.
RG training itself is still compulsory for all staff in those sectors. But operators now have more freedom to develop and revise their own content without needing AGCO sign-off, as long as the training meets industry best practices and effectively prepares employees to recognize and respond to gambling-related harm.
The AGCO stipulates that RG training must adequately ensure that employees understand their role in promoting responsible gambling and supporting individuals who may show signs of gambling problems.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s (OLG) PlaySmart program remains valid under the updated standard, confirmed the regulator.
The change is intended not only to reduce red tape but to encourage innovation within responsible gambling, maintain Ontario’s standards for player protection, and bring greater consistency between land-based gaming and iGaming.
AGCO regulator advises operators on how to spot at-risk players
This is the second time in a few weeks that Ontario’s online gambling regulator has tweaked the way it approaches responsible gambling.
In early June, it updated its comprehensive advice on how licensed operators can identify and support players at risk of harm.
While the AGCO noted its regulatory model places accountability on operators to actively shield players from gambling-related harm, its guidance helps clarify its expectations of operators and signposts ways that gambling brands can meet the province’s requirements.
At that time, the commission stressed the importance of rigorous employee training, documentation of such training and continuous assessment in upholding its standards.
