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Ontario regulators are increasingly shifting their attention beyond offshore gambling operators themselves and toward the companies helping power those platforms.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) recently fined Relax Gaming Limited and Arrise Solutions Limited $40,000 each after an investigation found their casino games were available on unregulated gambling websites accessible to Ontario players.
Both companies are registered suppliers in Ontario’s regulated iGaming market, meaning they are permitted to provide games to licensed operators approved by the province. Under AGCO rules, however, suppliers are prohibited from supporting unregulated gambling sites that remain accessible within Ontario.
The move signals Ontario’s continued effort to tighten pressure on the grey market as the province’s regulated online gambling sector matures.
Ontario Expands Pressure Beyond Offshore Operators
Since regulated Ontario online casinos and sportsbooks launched in 2022, Ontario has largely focused on encouraging grey-market operators to transition into the legal framework. Many major operators eventually entered the regulated market, helping Ontario build one of North America’s largest online gambling ecosystems.
This latest enforcement action suggests regulators are now increasingly focused on the broader supply chain that supports unregulated gambling activity.
By targeting suppliers rather than just offshore operators, Ontario can pressure companies that provide the technology, games, and infrastructure helping grey market platforms continue operating.
According to the AGCO, supplying games to unregulated sites “helps to sustain unregulated gaming operations.”
The regulator also emphasized that unregulated sites do not guarantee important consumer protections such as responsible gambling safeguards, dispute resolution processes, or secure handling of player information.
Suppliers Moved Quickly After AGCO Investigation
The AGCO said both companies cooperated with investigators and took steps to block Ontario players from accessing their games on unregulated platforms after being notified.
Relax Gaming and Arrise Solutions both remain active suppliers in Ontario’s regulated market.
Still, the penalties reinforce that Ontario expects registered suppliers to actively monitor where their products are being distributed, particularly in jurisdictions with regulated frameworks.
That expectation could become increasingly important as more Canadian provinces prepare to open competitive online gambling markets, with the launch of Alberta online casinos and sportsbooks scheduled for July 13.
Alberta Launch Adds More Attention to Grey Market Enforcement
The enforcement action also arrives as Alberta online casinos and sportsbooks move toward the launch of a regulated market on July 13.
Like Ontario, Alberta has repeatedly stated that one of its primary goals is moving players away from grey market and offshore gambling platforms into a regulated environment with proper consumer protections.
That means suppliers seeking entry into Alberta may face similar scrutiny around relationships with unregulated operators. If regulators apply the same logic used in Ontario, registered suppliers in Alberta could be expected to actively block their content from reaching grey market sites accessible to provincial players.
What This Means for Grey Market Operators
Alberta’s transition rules are explicit on this point. Any operator currently running an unregulated gambling operation in the province must submit a completed application to the AGLC and cease taking bets by July 13, 2026.
Operators that miss that deadline and cannot demonstrate a clear path to compliance may apply for an extension of up to three months, but no later than October 13, 2026.
Crucially, the AGLC has made clear that a late application alone is not a valid reason for missing the July 13 requirement. Failure to meet these conditions could result in a finding of unsuitability for iGaming registration, effectively locking operators out of Alberta’s regulated market entirely.
Broader Implications For the Supply Chain
For grey market operators that choose not to apply, the consequences could extend beyond regulatory exclusion. If major regulated suppliers follow the same compliance logic enforced in Ontario, those operators may also lose access to the licensed game libraries that players expect.
A shrinking game catalogue could become a major disadvantage for operators trying to remain outside regulated markets. As provinces expand regulated online gambling markets across Canada, regulators increasingly appear willing to hold suppliers directly accountable for where their content is distributed.
Ontario’s actions may ultimately serve as an early signal of how that pressure will be applied going forward.
