Octoplay Obtains Ontario Gaming Supplier License

Octoplay has recently secured the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) gaming supplier license, a highly reputable gaming permit that officially allows this game developer to be able to supply, install, or adapt gambling software in the state of Ontario. 

By obtaining this permit, Ontario-licensed suppliers are able to enhance the gaming services that they offer.  

In addition to this, this permit allows Octoplay to provide the slot machine games included its extensive gaming portfolio to licensed operators that are situated in the Canadian province of Ontario. 

Amongst the many online casino games that players in Ontario will now have access to, Ontarians can choose to play the following very popular slot machine games: 

• Pearly Shores 

• Lolicat 

• Bullet Bonanza 

One must also keep in mind that obtaining a gaming license, especially from a reputable gambling authority, involves a very systematic procedure that tends to be very strict to follow. 

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario gaming supplier license, in particular, is one of the most prestigious, and also one of the most hard-earned, permits to secure. 

Having successfully obtained this gaming supplier license, you can rest assured that the online casino games developed by this game developer are very trustworthy and follow the safest and most secure measures available.  

The Implications of Obtaining a Gaming License supplied by the AGCO 

Taking into consideration the fast-growing jurisdiction of Ontario, obtaining this prestigious license is a very noteworthy accomplishment for Octoplay.  

Not only does it allow Ontario-licensed operators within this jurisdiction to feature this game supplier’s extensive selection of slot machine games, but it also enables Octoplay to tap into a massive and ever-growing market:

• The Ontario iGaming and sports betting market that is home to a total of 71 gaming websites and 47 licensed online gaming operators. 

We will delve into more detail about the exponential increase in iGaming revenue in Ontario further down in this article. 

Comments made with regards to this gaming license approval 

In light of Octoplay’s recent accomplishment at obtaining the AGCO gaming permit, the legal director of Octoplay, Martina Borg Stevens, made the following statement: 

“We are thrilled to have secured this [...] license, being the fourth license we have acquired in 2023. We have been clear about our mission to obtain a licence in every single regulated market, and this is a testament to this. To be awarded a licence from such a prestigious regulator makes us feel incredibly proud and establishes a strong foothold in [the] North American market, which we look forward to building upon.” 

In addition to this, Borg Stevens added the following: 

“Octoplay has rapidly emerged as an industry disruptor, captivating attention and establishing itself as a rising force. Achieving remarkable success within just one year since its creation, the company has swiftly positioned itself as the next big thing in the market.” 

Nick Vuchev, the commercial director of Octoplay, had the following statement to make regarding Octoplay’s successful approval of this reputable gaming license: 

“Our slot games are in high demand among players in markets across the world. It’s no surprise that operators want to stock our titles, and that’s why we are working hard to secure licences and approvals in all regulated markets. Securing our Ontario licence is a major milestone in this journey, and we look forward to seeing our slots land in the lobbies of popular casino brands in Ontario for the first time.” 

More about Octoplay

Octoplay is an emerging online casino game development company that was established back in October 2022. 

This game developer has successfully secured a number of highly reputable gaming licenses from the following gambling authorities: 

• The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) 

• The Romanian National Gambling Office (ONJN) 

• The Gambling Commission of Great Britain 

• The Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen) 

• The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) 

Regarding what this game developer can provide to both its clients and players, Octoplay made the following affirmations: 

• ‘Great Games: We have a burning passion for casino games and an industry leading team of innovators.’ 

• 'Our platform powers the next generation of content creation: We've made game production easier than ever before, allowing our studios to harness their full potential to create powerful games that players love.’ 

• 'Lightning-fast integrations: Our integration portal automates the integration process, giving developers access to documentation, environment generation and automated testing; drastically reducing the time and effort to market.’ 

How to obtain a gaming license?

The following is a summarized list of the appropriate steps that operators and suppliers must follow in order to attempt to obtain a gaming license issued by the iGO: 

• Execute a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with iGO. 

• Execute a Letter of Agreement with iGO. 

• Set Up and Configure Access to iGO’s Secure Data and Information Communication Channels. 

• Complete iGO’s Financial Information Submissions. 

• Participate in Operator Systems and Data Readiness Cycle with iGO 

• Execute the Operating Agreement with iGO. 

Similarly to the above list, the following are the required steps that operators and suppliers who wish to obtain a gaming license that is issued by the AGCO must follow: 

• Ensure games and critical gaming systems are Independent Testing Laboratory (ITL) certified. 

• Register with the AGCO. 

• Implement Control Activities to Comply with AGCO Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming. 

• Participate in Internet Gaming Notification Matrix Training. 

• Set Up Regulatory Reporting in iAGCO. 

• Set Up and configure Access to AGCO’s Secure Data and Information Communication Channels. 

• Provide Technology Compliance Confirmation to AGCO. 

In addition to this, with regards to how long it takes, following the proper procedures, for an operator’s or supplier's submission to be reviewed, the iGO issued the following reply: 

“All Operators circumstances are different, but Operators should expect a minimum of 90 days to complete the steps required to become registered by the AGCO and execute an Operating Agreement with iGO.” 

iGO’s intention to complete a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a centralized self-exclusion program 

Whilst there is currently no system that manages a centralized and coordinated player self-exclusion program, the iGO (iGaming Ontario) fully intends to complete a Request for Proposals (RFP) for its implementation. 

Thus far, the expected plan is to develop a centralized self-exclusion solution in the Canadian province of Ontario by early 2024. 

Such a solution would provide their players with the option of excluding themselves from all platforms pertaining to any Ontario-regulated online gaming operators. This would be accomplished by the player in a single registration process. 

In this way, when this system will come into fruition, it will make room for the player’s self-exclusion registration, renewal, as well as reinstatement.  

The iGO has promised certain key features pertaining to this self-exclusion program: 

• A player-focused solution, ensuring a very easy procedure to follow. 

• The self-exclusion program will be executed in a non-stigmatized and non-judgmental manner. 

• Supporting the players of the province of Ontario will be its primary focus. 

• The solution is required to be transparent and secure. This must be the case for both operators and players. 

• In addition to this, the solution must be viable for licenses to implement. 

In a press release, the following statement was made: 

“We are seeking interest from responsive and nimble companies that are able to build modern, innovative, secure cloud-based SaaS solutions that are high-profile, public-facing and critically important to building and maintaining the trust and confidence of a wide range of stakeholders. The successful bidder will partner with us on a multi-year program to develop best-in-class experiences by leveraging modern, innovative technology.” 

Despite there being no such current system that is fully managed by the iGO, iGaming Ontario requires all operators to have their own self-exclusion program that has successfully met the requirements that are stipulated in the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming. 

The surge in iGaming revenue in Ontario 

The Market Performance Report for the second quarter of the 2023-2024 fiscal year has been released by iGaming Ontario (iGO), a subsidiary of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). 

Here, it was reported that 14.2 billion Canadian Dollars were wagered in the period of time between July 1st and September 30th, 2023. 

The report also stated that a total revenue of $540 million Canadian Dollars was accrued. 

This results in an increase of 105% over Q2 last year, but a decline of 8.3% from Q1 of the same year. 

In addition to this, the number of active player accounts in the Ontario gaming market increased from 920,000 in Q1 of last year, to 943,000. 

There was a slight decrease in the average monthly spending per player account, with Q1 of last year resulting in $197 CAD, and dropping to $191 CAD this year. 

Additionally, the market performance report indicated that there was a slight increase in the number of licensed gaming operators, from 46 to 47. 

With regards to the number of gaming websites available in Ontario, on the other hand, these remained the same, resulting in a total of 71. 

More about the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) 

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is a provincial regulating agency that is responsible for a number of sectors within the province of Ontario. 

This corporation falls under the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario Act, 2019. 

The sectors that are under the jurisdiction of the AGCO include the following: 

• Lottery and Gambling 

• Cannabis retail stores 

• Alcohol 

• Horse Racing 

In accordance with this, the AGCO administers the following: 

• The Liquor License and Control Act, 2019 

• The Gaming Control Act, 1992 

• The Horse Racing License Act, 2015 

• The Cannabis License Act, 2018 

• The charity lottery licensing Order-in-Council 1413/08 

With the public’s interest as their primary focus, this provincial regulatory agency reports to the Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG). 

More about the iGO (iGaming Ontario) 

The iGO (iGaming Ontario) is a subsidiary of the Alcohol and Gambling Commission of Ontario (AGCO). 

The iGO is responsible for the managing and conduct of internet gaming in the province of Ontario: 

“iGaming Ontario (iGO) has worked with the Government of Ontario and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) to establish a new online gaming market that helps protect consumers gambling through private gaming companies (Operators).” 

The iGO was established in July 2021, and has worked in collaboration with the AGCO and the Government of Ontario in order to bring the “the world’s best online gambling experiences to the province in a safer environment, helping to protect consumers and provide more choice.” 

In this way, only those gaming operators who have successfully registered their private gaming companies with the AGCO and have made an operating agreement with the iGO can provide their online games to the players of the province of Ontario, Canada. 

Regarding the operators that can offer online games in Ontario, the iGO went on to say the following: 

“Operators offer gaming sites in the market on behalf of the province in accordance with these agreements. Through these relationships, gaming revenues are shared with the Government of Ontario to be used in support of provincial priorities.”