However, winning a slot at the auction won’t directly provide companies with a license, as it only gives them the right to apply and go through a full assessment. Successful bidders will need to submit five documents: a business plan, an advertising and marketing strategy, a consumer protection strategy, a harm prevention and minimization strategy, and a compliance strategy showing how their policies align with the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026. Applicants have until October 23, 2026, which amounts to around three and a half weeks after the auction, to complete this process.
On the technology side, games and random number generators already certified in the UK or Ontario won’t need retesting to launch on day one, though anything added later must go through full independent testing. According to the government, these measures are needed to ensure fairness and integrity for the casino games.
The market will be limited to 15 licenses in total, with no single operator allowed to hold ownership over more than three. Additionally, licenses will run for up to three years initially, with a one-time option to renew for up to five more years.
