Listen to this article:The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has updated its lottery licensing policies to allow charitable organisations in the province to livestream media bingo games online.
The change means eligible Ontario charities can broadcast media bingo on a web page as an alternative to showing the game on a local cable television station. The update came into effect in June, and it is intended to give charities more flexibility in how they run bingo events.
Importantly, the change is not the same as creating a fully online bingo product. Existing media bingo rules will still apply, with paper bingo cards sold through the charity or local merchants, and players are still required to phone a local number to claim a win.
The AGCO said the update was made following feedback from stakeholders and is part of its push to modernise charitable gaming in Ontario.
According to the regulator, allowing livestreamed broadcasts will give charitable organisations more flexibility and opportunities for fundraising. It also said the change will “reduce burden” and support “continued modernisation” in the charitable gaming sector.
The update is straightforward. Instead of having to air media bingo through a local cable television station, eligible charitable organisations can now broadcast the game through a livestream on a web page. This will make life easier for groups that rely on bingo to raise funds, especially in places where cable television is no longer the best way to reach players.
Although live streams are now permitted, the basic way that media bingo works has not changed.
The AGCO said bingo offered by livestream “must continue to operate in the same way as television media bingo”. It also said the update preserves the “existing structure” and requirements of licensed events.
That means charities will still need to follow the rules set out in the Lottery Licensing Policy Manual and the Media Bingo Licence Terms and Conditions. As mentioned, this means that paper bingo cards must still be sold by the charity itself or through local merchants acting on its behalf and that players will also still need to call a local telephone number if they want to claim a prize.
Ontario has not given charities permission to create a fully online bingo product with online ticket sales, instant online claims and remote account play. Rather, it has given traditional media bingo a more modern broadcast option.
While the changes may be limited, they are still very beneficial for charities. Media bingo has always depended on local broadcasting, which can limit how easily organisations can run games or promote them. A web-based livestream should make the format easier to access for players and easier to manage for operators, while maintaining the local and charitable nature of the game.
It should also help charitable organisations reach players who no longer watch local cable television but prefer to use a phone, tablet or computer to watch a livestream. In short, it will help to keep the format relevant to the modern age.
Charitable bingo plays an important role in Ontario’s gambling system. It allows approved organisations to raise money for good causes while operating under licensing rules that protect players and ensure accountability.
The Ontario charities bingo livestream update has not changed that basic idea. Charities still need to be eligible, licensed and compliant with the relevant terms and conditions. However, it recognises that player habits have changed and has brought in a compromise suitable for the modern age.
By allowing livestreamed media bingo, Ontario has made a relatively small but important adjustment. Charities have a more flexible way to broadcast their games, while the regulator keeps the existing safeguards around ticket sales, claims and event structure.
For players, this means that charitable bingo games should become more enjoyable, and for charitable organisations, it could provide another way to raise money.
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