AGCO Backs First Illegal Gambling Awareness Week

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is urging players to verify gambling sites before they bet. It backed the first Illegal Gambling Awareness Week, which ran from November 9 to 13.

The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) organized the global campaign. At its center is CheckBeforeYouPlay.org, a free tool launched on November 9. Regulatory technology company Sharp Vision contributed the tool, according to the Michigan Gaming Control Board.

Players enter a gambling site’s web address to see any available licensing information. The tool covers participating IAGR member jurisdictions. It draws on regulatory records and other verified public sources.

IAGR Warns Unlicensed Gambling Sites Leave Players Unprotected

IAGR built the campaign around one message for consumers. Before opening an account or depositing money, they should confirm that a site is licensed in the jurisdiction where they play.

IAGR warns that unlicensed sites can leave players with unpaid winnings and limited ways to resolve disputes.

Their personal and financial information could also be misused.

IAGR President Brian Krolicki said regulators “need coordinated tools that help consumers make informed decisions before they wager.” Kevin Mullally, the group’s CEO, summed up the campaign’s message in three words. “Unlicensed is unprotected,” he said.

How the AGCO Protects Ontario Players From Unregulated Sites

Ontario opened its private iGaming market on April 4, 2022. The AGCO registers and regulates online gambling sites in the province. It says protecting the public is central to its mandate.

Dr. Karin Schnarr, the AGCO’s CEO and Registrar, warned that unregulated sites may offer players none of the protections of Ontario’s regulated market. “They can look just as legitimate,” she said. Schnarr said Ontarians “deserve to know who they’re dealing with before they place a bet.”

The regulator has also backed its warnings with enforcement. In May 2026, it took action against two suppliers whose games appeared on unregulated sites. It also fined theScore Bet C$200,000 in October over cash-out offers the operator failed to honor.

Regulators Worldwide Join the Push Against Illegal Gambling Sites

IAGR first outlined the awareness week at its annual conference in Lima, Peru. Ontario was one of several jurisdictions to promote the tool during the week. Florida’s gaming regulator also took part. The Michigan Gaming Control Board urged residents to check sites before depositing money. It amplified the message by sharing IAGR campaign videos on its channels. In Australia, regulators blocked three more illegal gambling websites during the campaign.

IAGR says illegal sites are growing in both number and sophistication. Players elsewhere in Canada should also confirm a site’s status with their provincial regulator. Alberta’s legal market, for example, reached 50 licensed sites in October.