Ontario’s online gamblers could legally bet against people outside Canada

The Court of Appeal for Ontario has ruled in a 4‑1 decision that provincially regulated online gaming and sports‑betting platforms in Ontario could legally allow users to play peer‑to‑peer games with individuals outside Canada.

Currently players located in Ontario must use sites licensed for that province and are barred from wagering in games with opponents outside Canada. The proposed model under consideration would permit Ontario residents to participate in poker and daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests with players abroad, so long as the platform distinguishes between Ontario users and those accessing from other jurisdictions and meets regulatory requirements.

Though the decision is a win for the iGaming ecosystem in Ontario — and therefore for brands operating in that market — much depends on how regulations and provincial agreements are implemented. Practical details such as operator licensing, cross‑jurisdiction access, and enforcement mechanisms remain to be worked out.