Setting up or working with any business in Canada requires license and regulation to ensure that you’re on good terms with the law. For the gaming industry that is widely patronized by different categories of individuals, a robust regulatory system is needed to protect the interests of gamers. The government enforces these laws to ensure game suppliers can run their businesses effectively.
Whether a casino gamer knows it or not, before playing in a licensed casino in Canada, the casino must have gone through several evaluations by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). Before gamers could visit Casinocanada.io to play, the website and entire company had gone through multiple checks by AGCO to ensure it meets the minimum standards required of casinos in Canada.
This article gives a quick overview of game supplier license requirements for casinos in Canada. We’ll also provide all the relevant information for newbies just getting exposed to the gaming industry.
Ontario Gaming License Overview
While this gaming license overview is particularly for casinos in Canada, it’s important to know that all robust regulatory systems often follow the same theme when they’re in the same industry. If you live abroad and wonder about the gaming license requirements in your country, it should be a lot like what’s written in this article.
Gaming Supplier License Requirements
Companies and entities must satisfy these requirements before they can be involved in providing, installing, maintaining, or repairing casino gaming equipment. Companies and entities that provide these types of services are often licensed as Game-Related Suppliers. Also, if an entity handles security systems and gaming management software, it will need a Game-Related Supplier License.
This license attracts an application fee of C$15,000, and if issued, it attracts an annual fee of C$15,000. At the same time, the license should be renewed every four years in, and the company will require another reevaluation.
Some of the information and documents needed to complete an application for a Game-Related Supplier License in Canada are;
- Valid means of identification
- Criminal history
- Civil proceeding history (through the last decade)
- Bankruptcy history
- Description of services
- Expected annual volume of business with gaming facilities in Ontario
- Names and addresses of business partners (through the last decade)
- Business name registration
- Organizational chart
- Shareholders’ list
- Financial statement (through the last five years)
- Tax returns (through the last five years)
- List of accounts and financial institutions handling them (through the last ten years)
The complete detailed list is available on the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario website.
Gaming Principal Disclosure Requirements
This Personal Disclosure Form must be satisfied by officers, directors, partners, and other principal employees working for a company or entity that applies for a Gaming-Related Supplier License. While individuals working as sales representatives, supervisors, and office managers are classified as principal employees, other individuals who own at least 5% of the entity’s stock must also complete the form.
There’s no license issued as the Personal Disclosure Form is attached to the application materials of the Game-Related Supplier. Although individuals may pay for costs of review and investigation of the details in the Personal Disclosure Form, there’s no charge for submission of the form.
Some of the information and documents needed to fill a Personal Disclosure Form are;
- Valid means of identification
- Residence data (though the last ten years)
- Employment history (through the last ten years)
- Criminal history
- Bankruptcy history
- Garnishment history
- Statement of assets
- Statement of liabilities
- Statement of net worth
- details of mortgage payments or otherwise
- tax returns (through the last five years)
Conclusion
The gaming industry has seen monumental development in recent years. They need a robust licensing system to protect end consumers (or players). If you are a newbie or experienced player, you can rest assured that the government looks after your interest. It comes as no surprise as there have been developments in many industries in Canada. Since laws are liable to change, you need to keep your ears to the ground to get frequent updates about gambling laws.
There are also regulations guiding Non-Gaming Related Suppliers, but that’s a topic for another day. However, the classification of Non-Gaming Related Suppliers does not include casino players. Before exploring any online casino, ensure that the Canadian government licenses them.
