iGaming Ontario Warns Third Parties Are Misusing BetGuard Name

iGaming Ontario warned on 10 September 2026 that third parties were using the BetGuard name and branding to make misleading statements about how to opt out of regulated online gambling in Ontario. The Crown agency, which operates BetGuard, did not identify the parties or say what they had claimed. Its notice does not report any breach of BetGuard’s own systems.

The agency told people looking for information on self-exclusion to rely on BetGuard.ca, on operator websites listed in iGaming Ontario’s directory and OLG.ca, and on partners such as ConnexOntario, the Responsible Gambling Council and the other services listed on BetGuard’s Find Help page. Questions about opting out should go to BetGuard’s contact centre. Anyone who comes across material that appears to represent BetGuard or iGaming Ontario is asked to check it through the official iGaming Ontario or BetGuard contact channels.

Why a lookalike matters

BetGuard launched on 14 May 2026 and lets anyone 19 or older opt out of every regulated online gambling site in Ontario, including OLG.ca, with one registration. Signing up involves sensitive information: a government-issued photo ID, a cellphone number for a verification code, an email address, a permanent Canadian or U.S. address and a face scan. A page that borrows BetGuard’s branding could collect those details, or leave someone believing they had self-excluded when they had not.

The notice is short and does not describe the misleading statements. What it establishes is that the BetGuard name and branding alone are not proof that a page, message or service is official.

How to recognise the real service

• The address. The service runs at betguard.ca. Type the address directly, or follow the BetGuard link on iGaming Ontario’s website, rather than using a link from an unsolicited message or ad.
• The price. BetGuard is free. A request for payment to self-exclude is a red flag.
• Who signs up. Only the person opting out can register. A service offering to enrol someone on another person’s behalf is not BetGuard.
• The phone numbers. The official contact centre lines are 416-479-0008 in the Greater Toronto Area and 1-833-776-7171 toll-free. Do not rely on numbers listed on a page you are trying to verify.

Regulated operators are also a dependable route. Under Standard 2.14.1 of the AGCO’s Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming, every operator in the regulated market must promote the program on its site, so the responsible gambling section of a regulated casino account should point to the genuine service.

What it means for players in Ontario

Anyone who enrolled through a link they are now unsure about can sign in at betguard.ca, where the official service shows the person’s exclusion status and the date the term ends. If you cannot sign in or no exclusion appears, call the contact centre on the numbers above. If you shared ID documents with a site you now doubt, contact BetGuard or iGaming Ontario through their official channels and report it.

The BetGuard guide explains the official sign-up process and term options, and how to check if a casino is regulated covers the iGaming Ontario directory. Free, confidential support is available around the clock from ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600; more options are on the responsible gambling page.