If you live in Ontario, you’ve probably noticed that casino bonuses look different here. You’ll see fewer “deposit $10, get $100” ads on TV, on social media or on billboards. That isn’t because Ontario casinos don’t offer bonuses. It’s because the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) restricts where bonuses can be advertised and how they must be described.
This guide explains the rules in plain English, what they mean when you’re looking at an offer, and how to spot a bonus that breaks them.
FreeSpin Review is an independent information website. We are not a gambling operator, and we don’t publish Ontario bonus offers. This page is general information, not legal advice.
The Short Version
- Regulated Ontario operators can offer bonuses.
- They cannot advertise them publicly. Bonus details may only appear on the operator’s own gaming site, or in direct marketing to players who have actively opted in.
- An offer can only be called “free” if you don’t have to risk your own money or meet conditions to use it — otherwise those conditions have to be disclosed.
- “Risk-free” can’t be used if you could lose your own money.
- Material bonus terms have to be shown where the offer first appears, with the rest no more than one click away.
Rule 1: No Public Bonus Advertising
AGCO Standard 2.05 says advertising and marketing that communicates gambling inducements, bonuses and credits is prohibited, except on an operator’s gaming site and through direct marketing after the player has given active consent.
In practice, that means:
- No bonus amounts in TV, radio, billboard or general social media ads aimed at Ontario.
- No targeted online ads showing a bonus to people who haven’t opted in.
- Emails, texts and messages about bonuses only after you’ve opted in, and you must be able to withdraw that consent at any time.
The AGCO enforces this. In March 2025 it announced $110,000 in penalties against BetMGM Canada after marketing companies working for it offered cash to people to open accounts in public settings. The regulator treats marketing partners’ actions as the operator’s responsibility.
Rule 2: “Free” Has to Mean Free
Under Standard 2.06, an operator can’t describe an offer as “free” if you have to risk or lose your own money, or if conditions apply to your money, unless it clearly discloses those conditions. “Risk-free” can’t be used at all if you have to incur a loss or risk your own money to use the offer or withdraw winnings.
That matters for common offer types:
| Offer type | What to check |
|---|---|
| Free spins | Is a deposit required? Do winnings carry wagering requirements or a cap? |
| Deposit match | Wagering requirement, eligible games, time limit, maximum bet while the bonus is active |
| “Bet insurance” or lossback | Is the refund in cash or bonus credit? Does it need to be wagered? |
| No deposit bonus | Maximum cashout, verification requirements, expiry |
For a deeper look at how these offers work, see our guides to casino welcome bonuses, free spins no deposit and no deposit bonuses.
Rule 3: Terms Up Front
Standard 2.06 also requires all material conditions and limitations of an offer to be shown when the offer is first presented on the gaming site, with the remaining conditions accessible within one click. If you have to dig through several pages to find the wagering requirement, something isn’t right.
Other Advertising Rules You’ll Notice
- No active or retired athletes in igaming advertising, except in responsible gambling messages. This took effect on February 28, 2024.
- Nothing aimed at minors. Ads can’t use cartoons, influencers or themes likely to appeal to people under 19, and can’t run near schools or youth venues.
- No encouragement to gamble excessively or to chase losses.
How to Spot an Offer That Doesn’t Fit Ontario’s Rules
- A big bonus promoted in a public ad, social post or video aimed at Ontario players.
- “Risk-free bet” wording where you still stake your own money.
- Someone offering cash or gifts in person for signing up.
- Bonus terms you can’t find, or that only appear after you deposit.
- A site offering big bonuses to Ontario players that isn’t in the iGaming Ontario directory.
The last one is the most important. Unregulated sites don’t follow AGCO rules, which is often why their bonus ads look so much bigger. See Is online gambling legal in Ontario? for what you give up on an unregulated site.
If you think a regulated operator has broken advertising rules, you can report it to the AGCO. Our guide on how to file a complaint against an Ontario online casino covers the process.
Are Ontario Bonuses Worse Than Elsewhere?
Not necessarily. The rules control where bonuses are advertised and how they are described, not how generous they are. What changes is that you’ll usually see the full offer only after you visit the operator’s own site or opt in to its marketing. As always, the headline number matters less than the terms: wagering requirements, time limits and eligible games decide what a bonus is actually worth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Ontario online casinos offer welcome bonuses?
Yes. Regulated operators can offer bonuses, but they can only promote them on their own gaming site or through direct marketing to players who have opted in.
Why don’t I see casino bonus ads in Ontario?
AGCO Standard 2.05 prohibits advertising that communicates gambling inducements, bonuses and credits, except on the operator’s gaming site and through direct marketing after active consent.
Can a casino call a bet “risk-free” in Ontario?
Not if the player has to risk their own money or could incur a loss to use the offer or withdraw winnings.
Do free spins count as a bonus in Ontario?
Yes. Free spins are an inducement, so the same advertising limits apply, and any conditions attached to them must be disclosed.
Do these rules apply to websites like this one?
The AGCO holds operators responsible for the marketing done on their behalf, including by affiliates. That’s one reason this site explains how bonuses work instead of publishing Ontario bonus offers.
Do the Ontario rules apply in other provinces?
No. These are Ontario rules for Ontario’s regulated market. Other provinces have their own frameworks.
Bottom Line
Ontario casinos still offer bonuses. They just can’t shout about them in public, can’t call something free when it isn’t, and have to show you the terms up front. If an offer aimed at Ontario ignores those rules, treat it as a warning sign.
Ontario players should use operators registered with the AGCO and operating through iGaming Ontario.
19+ in most Canadian provinces. 18+ in Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec. Bonuses do not change the odds of any game. Gambling involves financial risk. If gambling is becoming a problem, contact ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600, available 24/7.