AGCO updates standards to broaden oversight of self-serve lottery terminals

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has amended its Registrar’s Standards for Gaming: Lottery Sector to introduce greater flexibility in how self-serve lottery terminals are monitored across the province. The changes came into effect on 2 February 2026.

Under the updated standards, lottery sellers are no longer limited to direct, in-person line-of-sight monitoring of self-serve terminals. Instead, they may now choose to use video surveillance systems, such as CCTV, as an alternative or complementary oversight method. 

The AGCO has stated that this approach is intended to provide sellers with monitoring options better suited to their premises, while maintaining safeguards around player eligibility and terminal security.

If camera-based monitoring is used, sellers and operators must ensure that video footage clearly captures the terminal during use and is recorded in high definition. All recordings must be retained for a minimum of seven days, or for any longer period specified by the Registrar, and must be made available to the AGCO upon request.

The amendments apply to specific standards governing self-serve lottery terminals. These include requirements for operators to develop and maintain responsible gambling policies and training, ensure terminals are equipped with disablement mechanisms and prevent access by ineligible individuals. 

Where line-of-sight monitoring is used, sellers remain responsible for actively supervising play and intervening in cases of suspected misuse or tampering.

AGCO has emphasized that the revised standards do not reduce regulatory expectations, but rather clarify acceptable methods of compliance. 

The regulatory changes follow a string of recent AGCO enforcement actions, including a $350,000 penalty issued to FanDuel Canada in January for betting integrity failures and previous sanctions against theScore for player protection oversights.