Options on table as Ontario iGaming considers sharing player bases
Ontario iGaming (iGO) is eying the potential of combining forces with other regulated gambling markets, which could lead to greater liquidity in online poker and daily fantasy sports.
Ontario iGaming President and CEO Joseph Hillier has floated the possibility of a similar deal for the Canadian province as the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), which allows US states to share player bases, despite having borders separating them.
MSIGA is a pact that allows member US states to share online poker player pools, enhancing liquidity and game availability across borders. It currently includes states like Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
MORE: Gambling in Ontario
Player pools for poker and daily fantasy sports have been disappointing in Ontario, with the rest of the country unregulated, and still allowed to wager with offshore gambling sites.
Hillier said the prospect of combining their player base with other Canadian provinces, or even US states was on the table, as they look to improve their product.
“We’ve been thinking about it a lot, as you can probably imagine,” Hillier said.
“It’s been a hot topic in all quarters and joining the agency, it was one of the first things on my list to assess our options, the plans we’ve got and the conversations we can have.
“The mechanics, a lot of that will be conversations with our government partners, our ministry colleagues, and understanding the government’s overall priorities.
“Some of those decisions will be driven by them, but iGO is uniquely positioned to engage with jurisdictions and understand how their markets work and what kind of opportunities there could be to come together.
“It’s pretty intricate. I’m continuing to learn more about it myself.”
While Hillier acknowledged the potential of running their poker products and daily fantasy sports in conjunction with other jurisdictions, the really exciting aspect is the potential for online casinos to tap into the massive player pools.
Progressive jackpot slots, for instance, which share their jackpot among multiple casinos and jurisdictions, could cross borders and create super prizes that are available in Ontario.
Hillier also acknowledge the possibility of Alberta regulating their iGaming industry in 2026, saying they would look to work with them in the future.
