How do I check whether the games at an Ontario online casino have been independently tested?

If you're playing at a registered Ontario online casino and wondering whether the games are actually fair — not just claimed to be — there's a real, mandatory answer: ITL certification. Here's how the whole thing works and what you can actually check.

ITL certification is mandatory, not optional

Every igaming game, random number generator, and component of an igaming system that accepts, processes, determines the outcome of, displays, or logs details about player bets must be certified by an independent testing laboratory (ITL) registered by the AGCO's Registrar before it can go live on any gaming site. This isn't a voluntary industry standard — it's a hard rule baked into the AGCO's Registrar's Standards for Internet Gaming.

An ITL certification is written assurance issued by a registered independent test laboratory confirming that the technology has been tested and meets the relevant AGCO Registrar's Standards for Internet Gaming. Certifications can only be issued by ITLs that are themselves registered by the AGCO, and the certification gives the AGCO reasonable assurance that the technology being tested complies with those standards.

What exactly gets tested? Testing needs to cover all games, random number generators, and the pieces of igaming systems that accept, process, determine the outcome of, display, and log details about player bets. That means the RNG driving every slot spin and card draw has been put through its paces by a third party before you ever see it.

Who the testers are

The AGCO registers independent testing labs that test and certify igaming technology against the required Registrar's Standards. For internet gaming specifically, the AGCO oversees the certification of igaming technology by registered independent test labs rather than testing this technology in-house. The AGCO publishes a current list of registered ITLs on its website — that page is the live source of truth, since labs can be added over time.

Before applicable technologies can be deployed in Ontario's market, operators must ensure games, random number generators, and components of igaming systems that accept, process, determine the outcome of, display, and log player bets have been certified — this includes slot games, table games, sports and event betting, poker, and other card games.

How to verify this yourself

As a player, you have a few practical ways to confirm you're on a properly regulated site where this certification requirement actually applies:

• Check the iGaming Ontario and BetGuard logos. Every fully registered Ontario igaming site displays both the iGaming Ontario logo and the BetGuard logo — their presence signals the site is managed by iGaming Ontario and regulated by the AGCO, meaning the ITL certification rules apply to every game on it.
• Verify the operator on the official registry. The iGaming Ontario website lists all registered operators. If a site isn't on that list, the ITL rules — and every other player protection — don't apply to it.
• Look at the game info panel. Many game providers display their testing lab's name or certification logo (GLI, BMM, eCOGRA, and similar) directly within the game's info or "about" section. This is the game supplier's own disclosure of who tested it.
• Check the casino's footer or responsible gambling page. Registered operators often name the testing bodies their game suppliers use, and you can cross-reference those labs against the AGCO's registered ITL list at agco.ca.

One thing to keep in mind about RTP figures

ITL certification confirms a game's RNG is genuinely random and that the game operates as designed — it doesn't lock in a specific return-to-player percentage that you can hold the casino to. Published RTP figures are theoretical long-run averages derived from the game's math. Monitoring and testing are performed throughout the life of the gaming system to ensure it continues operating as approved, but individual session results will vary widely. If you want the RTP for a specific title, check the game's own info panel or the provider's official site — those figures change by variant and version, so they're best confirmed at source.

Ontario's market is 19+. If gambling ever becomes something other than entertainment for you or someone you know, ConnexOntario (1-866-531-2600) connects you with local support — and BetGuard (betguard.ca) lets you self-exclude from all registered Ontario operators in a single step.