The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Canadian Gaming Association (CGA), which will establish a framework for betting integrity issues in Ontario and the rest of the Canadian market.
The MoU will mean the IBIA will take charge of protecting sports play, customers and regulated betting operators in Canada.
The agreement will also launch a number of collaborative projects for the IBIA and CGA, which will involve the promotion of integrity ventures and supporting the regulation of Canada’s betting market.
“Protecting the integrity of the betting market in Ontario, and indeed the wider Canadian market, is very important to IBIA and its members,” said Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA. “We will be seeking to engage with a wide range of key stakeholders on betting and integrity related issues and see the CGA as a pivotal partner in the achievement of that goal.”
“The CGA has been a driving force behind the evolution of regulated betting in Canada and IBIA views it as a valued and critical partner in the continued development of the sector and in placing sporting and betting integrity at the forefront of that.”
The IBIA announced the launch of its integrity service in the US and Canada in February. The association had recently received accreditation from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario as an independent integrity monitor.
“IBIA will be one of only a handful of sports integrity monitors recognized by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario for licensed operators and we believe there is great value in deepening our relationship with the organization,” said Paul Burns, President and CEO of the CGA.
“As the CGA looks ahead to the opening of Ontario’s igaming market and the expansion of sports betting products and services across Canada in 2022, the protection of athletes and integrity of sports betting is a key priority.”
Ontario is set to launch its igaming market on 4 April, ending a process that first launched in April 2019. This was when Ontario’s government announced plans to open the province’s online gaming market to private operators, developments on which began in November 2020.
The legislation passed in 2021.
Single event sports betting launched in Canada August, after Bill C-218 passed into law and was given Royal Assent.
The bill removed a paragraph of Canada’s Criminal Cod, which stipulated that bettors could only place wagers on three games or more.
