June 19, 2023
As I enter my fourth year as Chair of the Board of Directors, I am pleased to present the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario’s (AGCO) 2022-2023 Annual Report.
This past fiscal year was a particularly meaningful one for the AGCO, given the integral role this agency has played in the launch of Canada’s first open, regulated internet gaming (igaming) market. Like many other jurisdictions, internet gaming in Ontario had, for years, primarily occurred in an unregulated space. Changing that story took the collective efforts of many, from the Government of Ontario to stakeholders across the gaming ecosystem.
The AGCO played a leadership role establishing a regulatory framework that supported the government’s objectives, including providing consumers with increased choice, enhancing player protections, and supporting the growth of a new, legal market. The regulator worked closely with iGaming Ontario to ensure a smooth launch of the market in April 2022.
By most measures, the first year of Ontario’s open, regulated igaming market was a remarkable success. Many jurisdictions around the world have pointed to Ontario’s model as one to learn from and emulate. Indeed, the AGCO was the proud recipient of the International Association of Gaming Regulators’ Regulatory Excellence Award, as well as the North American Gaming Regulators Association’s Excellence in Gaming Regulation Award for its development of Ontario’s igaming regulatory framework.
Beyond gaming, the AGCO continued to support many of the government’s important public policy priorities over the past year. These included the implementation of Ontario’s new legal framework for the sale and service of liquor, the continued support for a safe and robust private cannabis retail market, and ongoing support for Ontario’s horse racing industry as it continued to recover from the effects the pandemic had on the sector.
Through its Strategic Oversight and Governance, and Finance, Audit and Risk-Management committees, the Board of Directors provided the AGCO with the direction and support required for the agency to continue delivering on its effectiveness, transparency, and accountability requirements. This included ongoing oversight of the AGCO’s response to recommendations made by the Auditor General of Ontario in her 2020 audit of the organization.
The Board continues to be a strong supporter of the agency’s Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DI&A) objectives. We have been pleased to note some of the positive outcomes from this initiative, including the continued implementation of a multi-year DI&A strategy, and the establishment of a new, dedicated office. This new capacity will help the agency ensure equity and inclusion are rooted in the AGCO’s workplace values and sustainably incorporated into its day-to-day operations.
On behalf of the Board, I would like to extend our sincere thanks to all AGCO staff and leaders for their strong commitment to the agency and to the sectors and communities we serve.
Earlier this year, our CEO and Registrar, Tom Mungham, announced that he will be retiring in Autumn 2023, after almost 33 years of dedicated public service. On behalf of the Board of Directors, we thank Tom for his extraordinary commitment to regulatory modernization, to enhancing consumer protection, and to providing high quality services for the sectors we regulate. We wish him all the best in the next chapter of his journey.
I am pleased to share that the Board has initiated the recruitment process to identify the AGCO’s next Registrar and CEO. While that person will have big shoes to fill, I have the utmost confidence that the Board will find a candidate who shares Tom’s dedication to the public interest, to effectiveness, and to modernization in support of Ontarians and the AGCO alike.
Lalit Aggarwal
Chair