Ontario Regulators Reiterate Crypto Ban and Interac Preference for Online Gambling

08 November 2026

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has made it clear once again: cryptocurrency has no place in the province's regulated online gambling market. In a set of recent statements and guidance, the AGCO has reinforced its stance that crypto is not legal tender and not permitted as a deposit or payment method at licensed Ontario iGaming sites.

The clarification comes as part of AGCO's ongoing efforts to ensure transparency and player protection in Ontario's competitive online gambling market, which launched in April 2022. Under the dual-entity framework, AGCO is responsible for registering and regulating operators and suppliers, while iGaming Ontario (iGO) manages the commercial operations.

AGCO's Registrar's Standards for Internet Gaming, which came into force with the market launch, contain explicit prohibitions on cryptocurrency use. Standard 5.69 requires that all deposits be verified and authorized by a financial services provider before being credited to a player account, and a note underneath the standard states plainly: "Cryptocurrency is not legal tender and shall not be accepted."

This prohibition is reinforced in the Deposits section of the Standards, where the same note about crypto being non-legal and therefore non-acceptable is repeated. Moreover, Standard 5.79 explicitly bans the transfer of funds between player accounts, further closing any loopholes that could potentially allow crypto transactions.

The AGCO's interpretation of these standards is clear: Ontario does not prescribe particular payment methods for operators, but because it considers cryptocurrency not to be legal tender, regulated iGaming in the province may not accept it. This means that AGCO-registered operators cannot use crypto as a deposit method for any players based in Ontario.

Consumer-facing explainers and comparative reviews of Ontario's online gambling offerings consistently reflect this. They note that regulated casinos must run all payments through regulated fiat channels ranging from Interac to credit cards to e-wallets, and cannot accept cryptocurrency deposits. The message to players is clear: if you want to gamble online in Ontario's regulated environment, crypto is off the table.

Protecting the financial framework

The ban is not just about ensuring financial discipline and preventing illegal money flows. By not linking the province's regulated casinos to crypto, the AGCO maintains that they're protecting mainstream payment providers like Interac. Problems with crypto could potentially call into question the wider economic structures that support iGO.

This ties directly to the core objective of launching the province's regulated online gambling market: to offer a safe, secure, and transparent environment for Ontarians. As the AGCO notes in its latest guidance, this forms part of its ongoing emphasis on player security, trust and a stable economic framework.

Interac's role in this setup is prominent. The most widely used payment method in Ontario and across Canada, Interac prides itself on familiarity, convenience, and a strong reputation for efficiency and safety. In the online gambling context, it's frequently described as the standard way money moves in and out of player accounts, with all balances denominated in Canadian dollars (CAD).

Ontario licensing and payment guides list Interac alongside credit cards and e-wallets as a standard, regulator-friendly payment method for AGCO-licensed casinos. Industry analysts note that the province favours Interac and similar regulated fiat options because they provide the necessary traceability and security that aligns with the AGCO's stringent standards.

In contrast, offshore crypto casinos that target Ontario players are consistently flagged as not being part of the province's regulated market. They do not carry the same player protections as AGCO-licensed sites, and the AGCO has no jurisdiction over their operations. For Ontarians who want to use cryptocurrency for gambling, the offshore route remains the only option, but it comes with significant risks.

As Ontario's regulated online gambling market continues to evolve, one thing remains certain: the AGCO's stance on cryptocurrency is not likely to change. The regulator is committed to maintaining a safe, secure, and transparent environment for iGaming in the province, and that means prioritizing regulated fiat payment methods like Interac over the less traceable realm of cryptocurrencies. The message to operators and players alike is clear: in Ontario's online gambling world, crypto is a no-go.