Privacy Policy

Effective Date:  April 14, 2026

iGaming Ontario (“we”, “us” and/or “our”) has a mandate to conduct and manage prescribed online lottery schemes (“igaming”) for players physically present in the Province of Ontario through authorized private internet gaming operators (“Operators”) who offer their services as agents of iGaming Ontario on websites or applications on which the Operator provides igaming offerings to players (“Operator Websites”).  

In connection with its role conducting and managing igaming, iGaming Ontario facilitates a coordinated, centralized-self exclusion program (“BetGuard”) that allows participants to centrally exclude themselves from all regulated online igaming in Ontario on Operator Websites that is conducted and managed by iGaming Ontario or conducted and managed, or operated, by the Ontario Lottery Corporation (“OLG”).  

This Privacy Policy (the “Policy”) describes how iGaming Ontario, its Operators, OLG, and iGaming Ontario’s third-party service provider(s) (the “Suppliers”) collect, disclose, retain, share and use Personal Information (as defined by FIPPA) of individuals who use BetGuard (“you”, “yours”).  

The nature of iGaming Ontario’s services, BetGuard or applicable law may change from time to time and as such, it may be necessary to amend this Policy to address such changes. We reserve the right to update, modify or supplement this Policy. iGaming Ontario will indicate updates this Policy by posting an updated version of the Policy on BetGuard and/or the Website with a revised effective date indicated above. You should review this Policy prior to using BetGuard and on a regular basis to satisfy yourself that you understand and comply with this Policy.

We encourage anyone who has any questions about the Policy to contact us at privacy@igamingontario.ca or 647-302-6589.  

BetGuard Centralized Self-Exclusion

This Policy governs BetGuard, which is offered by iGaming Ontario. Operators and the OLG may provide their own self-exclusion programs which are independent and separate from BetGuard.

This Policy does not govern, and we are not responsible for, Operator’s or OLG’s self-exclusion programs and their personal information-handling practises. For information on how Operators or OLG handle Personal Information in connection with their self-exclusion programs, please refer to their respective privacy policies.  

Personal Information We Collect – Notice of Collection  

iGaming Ontario along with Operators, the OLG and Suppliers, collects your Personal Information as part of administering, managing and facilitating the operation of BetGuard. iGO collects this Personal Information under the authority of section 1 of the iGaming Ontario Act, 2024, the Gaming Control Act, 1992 and 2.14.1 of the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming, and in accordance with the Ontario Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (“FIPPA”).  

We may collection information as follows:  

A. Access BetGuard Website

When you access, use or browse the BetGuard website (the “Website”), we may collect the following information:  

• Device-specific information, including operating system, location data and IP address;
• Operating system and type of internet browser used to access the Website
• Browsing information, including the browser you used, the time you visited the Website, and the pages you visited; and,
• Any information you may provide when communicating with us.

When you visit our Website, cookies are used to operate and administer services and improve your experience. A “cookie” is a piece of information sent to your browser by the sites you visit. You may set your browser to accept or reject certain cookies or to notify you if a cookie is offered. Refusing a cookie may affect services offered to you or the functionality of the Website. You cannot opt out of certain cookies that are necessary for the functioning of BetGuard.  

B. Registering and Verifying an Account with BetGuard

During the account creation and registration process on BetGuard, we may collect the following information:  

• Given name;
• Last name;
• Date of birth;
• Mailing Address;  
• Contact information, including phone number and email address;
• Government-issued photo identification (“ID”); and  
• Your image.  

Prior to finalizing account creation, we use email and phone number verification to confirm your contact details. We will send an email to you with the address you have provided us. Once you have verified your email address, you will be prompted to verify your phone number by entering a one-time password (OTP) sent to you via SMS. After both your email address and phone number have been verified, you can finalize your registration in BetGuard.  

During the registration process with BetGuard, you will be asked to verify your identity during our identity verification process (“IDV”). You will be required to scan a copy of your government-issued photo ID, followed by a scan of your face. Our Suppliers may create a unique biometric identifier from your facial scan and use that to match against the photo on your photo ID to verify your identity. Such information is collected and used subject to our Supplier’s privacy policy.  

If your facial scan does not match the photo ID that you use to verify your account, you may be required to complete additional verification checks, including an identity verification through a credit bureau or manually providing information to an agent. If a credit bureau-based verification is performed your Personal Information may be collected by Suppliers. We will use the information gathered in these processes and use it to verify your identity, but do not keep a copy of your facial scan or photo ID.  

We may also keep a record of the number of times your facial scan does not match the photo ID that you use to verify your account.  

C. Participation in BetGuard

We may collect Personal Information when our Operators, the Suppliers, or OLG, and other governmental or regulator agency share your Personal Information in their possession with us, including when Personal Information is shared to us to confirm your BetGuard registration status.  

D. Communications and Contact Centre

iGaming Ontario, or our Suppliers on our behalf, may collect Personal Information from you when you communicate with us, submit a comment through BetGuard, or call our contact centre (the “Contact Centre”). This includes your name, contact details and any other information you provide. All calls may be recorded to provide assistance to you, for training, compliance, record-keeping, quality, accuracy and monitoring purposes.  

Use and Retention of Personal Information

iGaming Ontario and our Operators, OLG and Suppliers on our behalf may use and retain your Personal Information to:  

• Provide, oversee, administer, maintain, update, customize and operate BetGuard and the Website;
• Identify, authenticate and verify you;
• Communicate with you;
• Improve, maintain and update BetGuard and the Website; and,
• To enforce our agreements and comply with legal and regulatory requirements.

Once you have completed the registration process and are centrally self-excluded, your information is retained and used to facilitate the operation of BetGuard, including use by iGaming Ontario, its Suppliers and Operators, and OLG.  

Personal Information will be sent by Operators and OLG to BetGuard to confirm your registration status. The information we receive will be used to confirm if you are centrally self-excluded. Operators and OLG will use your Personal Information to check your centralized self-exclusion registration status, and if you are centrally self-excluded, will be required to prevent your access to player accounts, prevent marketing from going to you, and perform other functions or duties as required by and pursuant to applicable law (including in particular under the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming).

Any Personal Information will be used and retained for as long as necessary for Operators, the Suppliers and OLG to perform the centralized self-exclusion status checks.

We may retain your Personal Information as long as reasonably required to operate BetGuard or as otherwise required to comply with our legal or regulatory obligations and in accordance with iGaming Ontario's data retention policies.  

We may use anonymized Personal Information for an indefinite period after your account has been closed for internal research or statistical purposes to improve the Website or BetGuard services.

Research Purposes

If you consent to be contacted by us for research purposes, we or our Suppliers may contact you. We may share your name and contact details with our Suppliers to facilitate such communications.  

If you agree to participate in any research programs offered by iGaming Ontario, we may retain, use and share your Personal Information with our Suppliers for research, including to help improve and develop BetGuard and responsible gaming practices. Your Personal Information will only be used for the specific research purposes you consent to.  

You have the right to withdraw at any time from receiving research communications or participating in research programs.  

Sharing Personal Information  

We may share your Personal Information with Operators, Suppliers and OLG, to facilitate the operation or maintenance of BetGuard, the Website and its associated services and functions.  

We may share your Personal Information with our Operators, our Suppliers, OLG or any other law enforcement, governmental or regulatory agency for lawful purposes. Our Suppliers may share your Personal Information to its third parties to provide IDV services in connection with the verification, registration and maintenance of your account and registration status.  

In some instances, your Personal Information may be shared with Suppliers to verify your identity.  

In certain circumstances iGaming Ontario may share your Personal Information to third parties without notice to you, subject to applicable laws and this Policy. Your Personal Information may be shared with government authorities, law enforcement agencies, or other third parties:  

• if required to do so by applicable laws;
• with the good faith belief that such action is necessary to comply with a legal obligation, or to prevent fraud or other illegal or harmful activity;
• if we determine, in our sole discretion, that there is a violation of our terms, policies, guidance documents or applicable laws, or to protect and defend our rights or property.  

We may also disclose, share or otherwise make available your Personal Information in connection with a corporate re-organization, commercial transaction, merger amalgamation with another entity or any other restructuring.  

Security Measures  

We have implemented physical, procedural, and technological security measures to protect the Personal Information under our custody and control. Access to Personal Information is restricted to individuals who require such access to perform their duties. Furthermore, we impose information security requirements with whom Personal Information may be collected, used, disclosed or retained. However, iGaming Ontario does not warrant, represent, or guarantee the absolute security of Personal Information under our control or under the control of our Operators, Suppliers, OLG or other third parties.  

To maintain the security of your account, please keep your account information, including your password confidential.  

Location of Data  

Any Personal Information collected, used or disclosed while providing and administering BetGuard may be retained outside the Province of Ontario or Canada.  

Access and Updating Personal Information

You may log into your BetGuard account to access your Personal Information and may update certain information (such as additional email addresses) through your account. However, certain information, once verified, cannot be changed (such as birthdate).  

Privacy Principles  

iGaming Ontario is committed to apply these ten privacy principles as outlined by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Model Code to the best of its abilities to all information collected, used, disclosed and retained by iGaming Ontario and its Operators. The principles as outlined in our standard Privacy Policy on the iGaming Ontario website are incorporated here by reference.  

Contact Us

Should you wish to make a complaint or inquiry related to your Personal Information please contact iGaming Ontario’s privacy office at:  

Privacy Office  
iGaming Ontario  
4711 Yonge St, Suite 602   
Toronto, Ontario M2N 6K8  
Email: privacy@igamingontario.ca