AGCO Supports IAGR's Illegal Gambling Awareness Week to Help Consumers Identify and Avoid Unregulated Online Gambling Sites

TORONTO, Nov. 9, 2026 /CNW/ -- In response to the risks and deceptive nature of unregulated gambling websites and apps, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), a proud member of the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR), is supporting and participating in IAGR's first Illegal Gambling Awareness Week (IGAW), November 9–13, a global awareness campaign and website tool to help consumers identify and avoid illegal or unregulated online gambling sites. As part of this important awareness week, IAGR is launching checkbeforeyouplay.org to provide consumers with another tool to verify whether an online gambling site is regulated in their jurisdiction before placing a wager, helping them avoid operators who may not provide essential consumer protections.

Illegal gambling websites are increasing in number, becoming more sophisticated, more visible, and making it harder for consumers to distinguish them from legitimate operators," said Brian Krolicki, President of IAGR. "Given the borderless nature of the internet, regulators need coordinated tools that help consumers make informed decisions before they wager. IAGR is launching this awareness campaign and website to give consumers resources to help keep them and their wagers safe."

The IAGR campaign will introduce a consumer-facing creative platform designed to make the risks of unlicensed gambling easier to understand and show how these operators can appear familiar and entertaining while offering none of the safeguards consumers receive with properly licensed operators. Through the web tool, users can enter a gambling site's URL to check whether it is licensed where they are located, because licensing status can vary by jurisdiction; a site may be authorized in one place but not another. Results are based on regulatory records and other verified, publicly available sources.

"We want gamblers to enjoy themselves while remaining safe, and that starts with knowing whether the site they are using is licensed in the jurisdiction; unlicensed is unprotected," said Kevin Mullally, CEO of IAGR. "People frequently mistake familiarity for trust. Gamblers may be familiar with the website name, but the operator may not be licensed in their jurisdiction, and in other instances, illegal operators purposefully build sites to appear familiar and credible with the intention of purposefully deceiving gamblers. Our simple and free-to-use website allows consumers to instantly check the URL and gamble with confidence."

As the global association of gaming regulators, IAGR is uniquely positioned to launch a global educational campaign and online tool to help people, no matter where they live, make informed decisions about the websites they use to gamble. Using unlicensed websites may leave consumers without recourse or dispute resolution, may put their financial information directly in the hands of fraudsters, and may also leave them without responsible gaming protections.

The AGCO is proud to support Illegal Gambling Awareness Week and thanks IAGR for leading this important initiative. Protecting the public is central to the AGCO's mandate. The AGCO oversees Ontario's regulated igaming market through clear, enforceable standards designed to support responsible gaming, safeguard personal information, maintain game integrity, and help identify and address money-laundering risks. Unregulated igaming sites that operate outside this framework may not offer the same safeguards, accountability, or oversight. The message is clear: not all gambling websites operate to the same standards. Before placing a bet, make sure it is with a licensed and regulated site.

"Ontario's regulated igaming market is built on clear standards that protect players, from responsible gaming safeguards to strong anti-money laundering controls," said Dr. Karin Schnarr, CEO and Registrar of the AGCO. "Sites operating outside that framework may offer none of that protection, and they can look just as legitimate. The AGCO is proud to support Illegal Gambling Awareness Week because Ontarians deserve to know who they're dealing with before they place a bet."

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GAMING REGULATORS

The International Association of Gaming Regulators is a regulator-led association dedicated to improving the effectiveness of gaming regulation worldwide. IAGR helps regulators exchange knowledge, improve regulatory capabilities, and collaborate on shared challenges through education, information sharing, and international cooperation.

More information can be found at www.iagr.org.

SOURCE Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario

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