Ontario Court Approves International Expansion of Provincial Online Betting

November 12, 2025 – Court of Appeal decision paves way for cross-border peer-to-peer gaming while maintaining interprovincial restrictions

Ontario’s Court of Appeal has ruled that provincially regulated online gambling platforms could legally allow residents to compete against international players, marking a significant shift in how digital gaming operates within the province.

The landmark decision, released in a 4-1 split ruling, comes more than a year after the Ontario government sought the court’s guidance on expanding its online gambling framework beyond current territorial limitations.

Current Restrictions vs. Proposed Changes

Under existing regulations, Ontario’s online gambling users face strict geographical constraints. Players must physically be located within the province, and they’re prohibited from participating in games or wagers involving anyone outside Ontario’s borders.

The government’s proposed model would dramatically expand these parameters by enabling Ontario gamblers to engage in peer-to-peer competitions—including poker and daily fantasy sports—with participants located outside Canada. This represents a fundamental restructuring of the province’s digital gaming ecosystem.

How the International System Would Function

According to the court’s ruling, international players would access the gaming system through separate websites and applications from those used by Ontario residents. These foreign participants would remain subject to their own jurisdiction’s gambling laws and regulatory frameworks, creating a patchwork of legal oversight across borders.

However, the ruling maintains firm barriers within Canada itself. Residents of other provinces and territories would continue to be barred from accessing Ontario’s online gambling platforms unless formal agreements are established between jurisdictions.

The Appeal Court emphasized that its opinion assumes the implementation of robust measures to prevent Canadians outside Ontario from circumventing these restrictions.

Unanswered Questions Remain

The court acknowledged that numerous “practical details” about implementing this cross-border model have yet to be resolved. Key outstanding issues include:

• Which provincial government officials would have authority to select international operators and foreign regulators for partnerships
• Who would negotiate the terms of these international agreements
• How enforcement mechanisms would prevent access from other Canadian provinces
• What consumer protection measures would apply to cross-border transactions

Implications for Ontario’s Gaming Industry

This decision could significantly expand the market for Ontario’s regulated online gambling sector, potentially attracting larger player pools and increasing revenue for both the province and licensed operators. The ability to compete internationally may also help Ontario’s platforms compete more effectively with offshore gambling sites that currently operate outside provincial regulation.

Medical professionals and addiction specialists have previously called for stricter regulations on sports betting advertisements, raising questions about how cross-border gaming might affect problem gambling rates and what protections would be extended to international participants.

The provincial government has not yet announced a timeline for implementing the cross-border gaming model or addressed the operational questions highlighted by the court.