iGaming Ontario (iGO), the agency which conducts and manages online gaming and betting in Ontario, has concluded its search for a provider for its planned new self-exclusion system.
iGO announced on Thursday that a joint bid from Integrity Compliance 360 (IC360) and IXUP has been selected to develop a new centralized self-exclusion system for Ontario. iGO says the new system will be the first of its kind in North America.
IC360 is a global technology and consultancy firm that specializes in providing comprehensive integrity and compliance solutions for sports, sports betting and online gaming. IXUP Limited is a technology company that develops software facilitating the secure sharing and analysis of sensitive information using advanced encryption tech.
Notably, IXUP is well-versed in the the self-exclusion area; the firm designed, delivered and operates Australia’s BetStop national self-exclusion register.
“This project reflects our ongoing commitment to build on the existing player protections here in Ontario,” said iGaming Ontario Executive Director Martha Otton. “With IC360’s tech-first expertise in betting integrity through ProhiBet and IXUP’s demonstrated success with BetStop in Australia, we’re confident they will help us build a robust self-exclusion system for Ontarians who decide to take a short- or long-term break from gambling.”
“IC360 is excited to work with iGaming Ontario to generate a system that brings the highest standard of responsible gambling tools to one of the world’s leading gaming jurisdictions,” added Eric Frank, IC360 President. “Through our tool ProhiBet and our education services we have always been strongly committed to responsible gambling and look forward to working with all stakeholders to deliver the best self-exclusion solution to protect players in Ontario.”
Al Watson, IXUP CEO, called the project, “a significant moment for responsible gambling in North America.”
All gaming operators will use tools
While the Ontario iGaming market continues to boom, processing $18.4 billion in online gaming and betting wagers in Q2 2024 alone, it still lacks a centralized self-exclusion system for players with problem gambling concerns to mitigate their own risk.
iGO opened the RFP process in March. It said at the time that it was looking for a partner on a software-as-a-service (SaaS) project that intends to make it as easy as possible for provincial sports bettors to voluntarily ban themselves from any regulated website.
Players will be able to self-exclude from all regulated iGaming sites in Ontario at once, including the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s OLG.ca. iGO says the move adds another layer of protection under the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)’s Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming.
The goal is to establish a system that holds the trust and confidence of the Ontario industry’s range of stakeholders, including players and operators.
IC360 and IXUP will now collaborate with iGO on a multi-year project to build a program that integrates seamlessly with all regulated Ontario iGaming operators’ systems, provides anyone 19+ with easy access to create and manage their self-exclusion profile, and implements identity verification processes.
“Requirements for robust player protections and responsible gambling safeguards are central to the AGCO’s regulatory standards for Ontario’s gaming industry,” said Dr. Karin Schnarr, CEO and Registrar of the AGCO. “Once the new, centralized self-exclusion system is available, all registered gaming operators in the province will be required to participate and this will go a long way in supporting players who wish to stop or take a break from gambling in Ontario.”
