New data from GeoComply has focused on identifying how many consumers attempted to place an illegal bet at licensed operators in Canada during the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 12th. There were about 9,000 blocked attempts. The data covered the Ontario market, where online and retail sports betting is legal.
The province already has more than 40 operators offering regulated betting products. GeoComply’s Senior Vice President of Government and Public Affairs, John Pappas, spoke to Mark Keats, from CDC Gaming Reports, and confirmed the number, arguing that the company, which specializes in geolocation services, managed to block 9,000 illegal betting attempts .
In most cases, people try to use a Virtual Private Network or VPN to bypass restrictions and access licensed entities in the province. Part of this is due to the fact that, even when sports betting was unregulated, there were no significant attempts in the province aimed at restricting the offshore market or ensuring that a legal gambling age restriction is observed. However, things have changed with the Ontario Alcohol and Gaming Commissions now focused on keeping the industry clean.
GeoComply was focused on blocking suspicious bets on the Super Bowl
“As part of the regulatory mandate, GeoComply is constantly combating attempts from around the world to access our customers’ platforms in Ontario,” explained Pappas. He also argued that it was normal to expect an increase in such illegal betting activities around the time of major events. The illegal activity here mostly had to do with US-based customers trying to place a bet with a provincial operator in Ontario.
This increase in Super Bowl activity was based on the fact that the legal playing age in the United States is 21 years old, while in Ontario it is only 19 years old, Pappas added. However, the GeoComply representative argued that ensuring compliance with existing gambling laws and blocking unauthorized access was of the utmost importance to the company and its partners.
He used this example to highlight why having robust geolocation compliance across all regulated markets is crucial. GeoComply has also managed to prevent people from betting outside the province, which is one of the regulatory prerequisites that people must fulfill.
Having an Ontario account is allowed even if you live outside the province, but to place a bet – online or in person – you must be located within Ontario. Pappas assured that GeoComply is aware of and able to intervene in cases where consumers were trying to violate industry rules.
