iGaming Ontario Launches New Self-Exclusion Tool BetGuard

^{Ontario online casino players can now block themselves from all regulated sites in the province in one go, free of charge. (Image: Betguard.ca)}

Online casino players in Ontario can now self-exclude from all regulated sites in the province at once, following the launch of a government-backed responsible gambling tool.

BetGuard, a free-to-use service, was officially launched yesterday by iGaming Ontario (iGO), the government body that manages Ontario's online gaming market. 

Until now, gamblers in Ontario could only exclude themselves from individual operators, rather than all brands at once. 

Open to individuals aged 19 and older, once signed up to the portal, users are prevented from accessing their existing online casino, poker and sports betting accounts, as well as creating new ones. 

They are also blocked from receiving any direct marketing or promotional communications, such as emails, text messages and push alerts, from any licensed online casino registered with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), including the provincially run OLG.

"BetGuard is designed with one simple principle in mind: if you need to take a break from the entire regulated igaming market, you can," said Joseph Hillier, president and chief executive officer of iGaming Ontario, in a press release.

"Player choice is key to the sustainability of our market, and that includes the choice to opt out."

Players can choose to self-restrict from online gambling for set periods of six months, one year or five years, or set their own custom time limit. Once activated, these cut-off periods cannot be undone, but can be extended if needed.

Currently, BetGuard only allows players to personally self-exclude from online casinos in Ontario and does not allow people to register friends or family on the portal. 

Users can track their own self-exclusion status by logging into their BetGuard account, which can be created regardless of whether they have an existing online casino account. 

Once the exclusion term ends, players can remain blocked by selecting a new term or remove themselves from BetGuard. 

Should a player take no action, BetGuard will automatically extend the self-exclusion term by seven years.

Once someone has signed up and commenced a self-exclusion term, operators are required to cancel and refund any outstanding bets to the player's account within 24 hours, except for any bets on an event occurring within that window. 

Any money left in a player's account will be returned either automatically or upon request, depending on the operator.

How to sign up

To sign up for BetGuard, users must be at least 19 years old and have a valid government-issued photo ID, a permanent Canadian or U.S. address, and a valid cellphone number and email address. 

Valid ID includes a Canadian or U.S. driver's licence, passport or passport card, permanent resident card or residency permit, certificate of Indian status, or a province or state photo card. 

Provincial health cards are not accepted.

Anyone who needs assistance signing up is asked to call 416-479-0008 in Toronto or 1-833-776-7171 toll-free for help.

First announced back in January, it's expected a similar centralised self-exclusion tool to BetGuard will launch in Alberta once it opens its legal iGaming market on July 13.