TORONTO – The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has reached out to over a dozen traditional and digital media platforms, urging them to halt the promotion of unregulated online gambling and sports betting sites, including Bodog, to Ontario residents.
Bodog, operated by Il Nido Inc., is an offshore gambling site actively targeting Ontarians through aggressive advertising on major media platforms. Despite restricting access for players in Quebec and Nova Scotia, Bodog continues to allow Ontario residents to engage with its unregulated offerings while maintaining heavy advertising presence across both traditional and digital platforms.
Under the Gaming Control Act, 1992, operators such as Bodog must be registered with the AGCO and sign an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario to legally operate within the province. Ontario’s regulated igaming framework ensures compliance with game integrity, player protection, anti-money laundering measures, and information privacy. Bodog’s activities undermine consumer protections, disrupt market fairness, and threaten the legitimacy of Ontario’s regulated gambling industry.
The AGCO warns that by broadcasting advertisements for Bodog and similar unregulated operators, media platforms inadvertently lend credibility to high-risk gambling sites, causing confusion among Ontarians. In response, the AGCO has called on broadcasters and digital media companies to remove advertisements promoting unregulated gambling, reinforcing their commitment to responsible gaming and a sustainable regulated igaming market.
The AGCO remains steadfast in its collaborative efforts with provincial and international partners to combat unregulated gaming operators and safeguard the public.
“The AGCO is committed to ensuring Ontario players have the safest experience by participating in regulated igaming platforms. By rejecting advertisements from high-risk, unregulated operators like Bodog, media organizations can demonstrate social responsibility and play a crucial role in protecting Ontarians while supporting Ontario’s regulated market,”
– Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar, AGCO.
