Sports Interaction Gets Ontario Betting License, for Sportsbook and Casino

Sports Interaction Launch

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) recently awarded an online gaming license to the online sportsbook and online casino provider Sports Interaction. After many successful years in the grey market, Sports Interaction is looking to thrive in Ontario's highly competitive regulated market.

About Sports Interaction

Sports Interaction has enjoyed over 20 years of successful operation in the Canadian sports betting and online casino market. This is primarily due to the support and regulation from the indigenous Mohawk Council of Kahnawáke.

In 1997, the indigenous people of Kahnawáke decided to establish an online gambling market in their sovereign land. Sports Interaction was the first online casino created for this purpose, with many others following suit. The exclusive regulation from the Mohawk Council has allowed Sports Interaction to prosper as a grey market operator in Canada. 

• 1997: Sports Interaction is founded and begins operating in Canada, thanks to a partnership between them and the Mohawk Council
• February 7, 2022: Avid Gaming, the parent company of Sports Interaction, is acquired by Entain, a major corporation in the iGaming space, giving the brand a significant boost.
• August 29, 2022: The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) awards an online gaming license to Sports Interaction.

Current Landscape

In 2022, the Canadian government decided to establish its online gaming market and allow for legal and regulated sports betting and gambling. This wasn’t much of a surprise, since Canada had long seen major demand for an online gambling market, with many Canadians gambling on grey market providers, or through sportsbooks based in other countries.

On April 4, 2022, Ontario became the first Canadian province to regulate online gambling. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), and its subsidiary, iGaming Ontario (IGO), began to issue licenses to interested providers. 

Online gambling giants like BetMGM quickly became regulated, with other popular sportsbooks like Sports Interaction getting their licenses within a few months. For grey market providers to operate legally in Ontario, they need to acquire a license from the AGCO and an operating agreement from IGO, which requires compliance with a number of rules and regulations imposed by these government agencies.

What Ontario Bettors Need to Know About SI Ontario

The official licensing of Sports Interaction shows the company’s dedication to working under regulation, which will be great for most of its player base. 

Betting with a licensed provider always means peace of mind and a little added security, so even bettors who bet with Sports Interaction already should benefit from this move. 

Overall, when you consider its outstanding range of markets and bet types, its competitive odds pricing, and its user-friendly website, Sports Interaction will be one of the best options for both old and new players.