iGaming Ontario bans auto and multi-screen play for online slots

[The Buzz]

iGaming Ontario, which was established by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario in June, released a new set of regulations including a ban on the auto-play function of online slots.

In additon, the new regulations restrict iGaming to players 19 years of age or older (or 18 and older for lottery). Also, multi-screen and split-screen play have been prohibited and online slots must not "celebrate losses disguised as wins." In-game credits must be presented as Canadian dollars.

In addition, gambling advertisements should not “exploit the susceptibilities, aspirations, credulity, inexperience or lack of knowledge of all potentially high-risk persons, or otherwise extoll the virtues of gaming” or “entice or attract potentially high-risk players.”

From iGaming Ontario:

The objective of a standards-based regulatory model is to shift the focus from requiring registrants to comply with a specific set of rules or processes, which tend to be prescriptive in nature, towards the broader regulatory outcomes or objectives they are expected to achieve. These regulatory outcomes are reflected in the “Standards” established herein.

In most cases, these Standards are drafted at a high level of generality, with the aim being to capture the purpose behind the rule. This offers greater flexibility for regulated entities to determine the most efficient and effective way of meeting the outcomes required, which in turn helps reduce regulatory burden and support market innovation. Since there may be many ways for a registrant to meet the Standards, they have the flexibility to determine what works best for their business, thereby strengthening regulatory outcomes without needlessly burdening regulated entities.

Further, the flexibility inherent in a Standards-Based model allows the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) to focus its resources on key risks and to deliver a modernized approach to gaming regulation in a rapidly evolving industry.

Read more here: https://www.agco.ca/lottery-and-gami...nternet-gaming

[Former Member 14]

The split screen play, that is, the ability to play 4 different slots on one screen, I support that move. The auto play is just stupid. Sure (AFAIK) land based slots do not have auto play. However, a tooth-pick or a match-stick, pushed into the side of the bet button, does the same job as auto-play. Hence, it's a stupid rule. Maybe a better solution is limiting the number of auto-play games to say 100 spins.

Some online slots offer auto play with ∞ (infinity) spins. Set and forget till your cash runs out or you hit a big win. There are also other slots which, when in auto spin mode, automatically enter free spins and bonus rounds, without any interaction by the player.

Maybe enforcing a law where that doesn't allow auto bonuses games, would be a far better idea than removing auto-play.