2.15 Game designs and features shall be clear and shall not mislead the player. This Standard does not apply to sport and event betting products. (Also applicable to Gaming-Related Suppliers)

Requirements – At a minimum:

  1. Game design shall not give the player the perception that speed of play or skill affects the outcome of the game when it does not.
  2. After the selection of game outcome, the game shall not make a variable secondary decision which affects the result shown to the player. If the outcome is chosen that the game will lose then the game shall not substitute a particular type of loss to show to the player (i.e. near miss).
  3. Where the game requires a pre-determined pattern (for example, hidden prizes on a map), the locations of the winning spots shall not change during play, except as provided for in the terms governing play.
  4. Games shall not display amounts or symbols that are unachievable.
  5. Free-to-play games available through the gaming site or related websites shall not misrepresent or mislead players as to the likelihood of winning or prize distribution of similar games, and shall have the same odds of winning as games played for money.
  6. The denomination of each credit shall be clearly displayed on game screens.

2.15.1 The method of making bets in sport and event betting must be straightforward and understandable. Information must be made available so that the player is clearly informed of the details of the bet prior to making the bet. All selections in a bet must be displayed to the player. (Also applicable to Gaming-Related Suppliers) [Amended: February, 2022]

Requirements — At a minimum:

  1. Bets on multiple events (parlays) must be identified as parlays.
  2. The player must be informed that a bet selected by the player has or has not been accepted.
  3. Where the player has placed a bet and the odds, payout odds, or prices of the bet change prior to the bet being confirmed by the operator, the player must have the option of confirming or withdrawing the bet (with refund of the bet). This requirement may not apply to an option for automatic acceptance of changes in bets described in Requirement 4 below.
  4. Where operators offer an option of automatic acceptance of changes in bets offered, the player must manually opt in to activate this this functionality and must be able to opt out at any time.  The details of this auto-accept function and any options for the function must be clearly explained to the player prior to their consent to the application of the function.  
  5. The player must be informed of the period in which bets can be made on an event or series of events and bets cannot be placed after the close of the betting period.
  6. Free to play sport and event betting games must not mislead players about the odds, payouts or any element of a bet for value available in sport and event betting.
  7. All bets and payouts must be expressed in Canadian currency.

Guidance: This Standard is not intended to prohibit or preclude in-play betting.

2.15.2 Players must be able to access information regarding available sport and event bets without having to place a bet. This information includes: 

Requirements — At a minimum:

  1. Information on the bets available;
  2. Odds, payouts and prices for available bets;
  3. In a dynamic betting environment, including those where individuals’ wagers are gathered into pools:
    1. The most up-to-date odds and payouts;
    2. The up-to-date total value of the pool for market pools and pool bets that are offered.

2.15.3 Reputable and legitimate data source(s) must be used to determine the outcome of a bet. These data source(s) shall be made available to the player upon request. (Also applicable to Gaming-Related Suppliers) [Amended: February, 2022]

2.16 Game designs and features shall help to prevent extended, continuous and impulsive play and facilitate low risk play behaviours. (Also applicable to Gaming-Related Suppliers)

Requirements – At a minimum:

  1. Games shall not encourage players to chase their losses, or increase the amount they have decided to gamble, or continue to gamble after they have indicated that they want to stop.
  2. Games shall not provide auto-play features for slots.
  3. Game play shall be initiated only after the player has placed a wager and activated play.  No player shall be forced into game play by selecting the game for review or reviewing information about how the game is played or how bets are made.
  4. A player should commit to each game individually, releasing and then depressing the ‘start button’ or taking equivalent action.  Continued contact with a button, key or screen should not initiate a new game.

2.17 The gaming system must not offer functionality which facilitates playing multiple slots games at the same time. This includes, but is not limited to, split screen or multi-screen functionality. (Also applicable to Gaming-Related Suppliers)

Combining multiple slots titles in a way which facilitates simultaneous play is not permitted.

2.18 It must be a minimum of 2.5 seconds from the time a game is started until the next game cycle can be commenced. It must always be necessary to release and then depress the ‘start button’ or take equivalent action to commence a game cycle. (Also applicable to Gaming-Related Suppliers)

A game cycle starts when a player depresses the ‘start button’ or takes equivalent action to initiate the game and ends when all money or money’s worth staked or won during the game has been either lost or delivered to, or made available for collection by the player and the start button or equivalent becomes available to initiate the next game.

A player should commit to each game cycle individually, continued contact with a button, key or screen should not initiate a new game cycle.

2.19 For slots games, the gaming system must not permit a customer to reduce the time until the result is presented. (Also applicable to Gaming-Related Suppliers)

Requirements: At a minimum:

  1. Features such as turbo, quick spin and slam stop are not permitted. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list but to illustrate the types of features the requirement is referring to.

Note: This Standard does not apply to bonus/feature games where an additional stake is not wagered.

2.20 For slots games, the gaming system must not use auditory or visual effects that are associated with a win for returns which are less than or equal to last total amount wagered. (Also applicable to Gaming-Related Suppliers) [Amended: February, 2022]

2.21 For slots games, gaming sessions must clearly display a customer’s net position (the total of all winnings minus the sum of all losses since the start of the session), in Canadian dollars. (Also applicable to Gaming-Related Suppliers) [Amended: February, 2022]

2.22 Players shall have the means to track the passage of time. (Also applicable to Gaming-Related Suppliers)

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