A recent regulatory shift by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has directly validated the digital-first iBingo strategy pioneered by Betty Canada, according to the company’s chief executive.
The AGCO announced June 23 that eligible charitable organizations running media bingo can now livestream their draws online, moving past the previous restrictions that limited broadcasts strictly to television or radio.
AGCO Modernizes Charitable Bingo
In a statement, the Ontario regulator noted that the policy shift directly responds to stakeholder feedback and supports the ongoing technological modernization of the province’s charitable gaming sector.
Under the traditional model, licensed charities sell bingo cards in advance and then broadcast the live draws, allowing participants to watch and play from home.
A prominent example is the Knights of Columbus TV Bingo in the Durham Region, which broadcasts live every Tuesday evening on Rogers TV.
Betty Sees Digital Opportunity
For the charities, the AGCO announcement means more flexibility since they can now stream across their own platforms, with no change in regulatory requirements, and allows for broader audience reach and easier access to the product.
Plus, it lowers costs for the charities, since they don’t have to purchase broadcast time. That means more games or more frequent draws.
That’s music to Chavdar Dimitrov’s ears. The Betty Canada CEO spoke to Casino.org last month (June 4) about the company’s growth into iBingo, with their online bingo operations built around the digital player experience.
Looking at the AGCO announcement last week, the regulatory frameworks are different – media bingo is charitable gaming, while Betty operates in Ontario’s commercial iGaming market. But the AGCO’s decision could be quite beneficial to Betty’s strategy, Dimitrov said.
Livestreams Expand Player Access
“The AGCO decision validates the model we’ve been moving toward,” Dimitrov said. “Livestream capabilities let charities extend their reach beyond the walls of the bingo hall while keeping the same trusted experience their players know. It’s not about replacing the hall experience; it’s about meeting players where they are, whether that is in person or online.”
While the decision applies exclusively to charitable media bingo, it signals that the AGCO is actively modernizing how the game can be delivered through digital channels—a direction that directly aligns with Betty’s long-term growth plans.
Dimitrov noted that iBingo remains an “overlooked” vertical in the sector, suggesting that competitors are not “pushing it hard” enough.
Unlike traditional digital lottery games where users play solo against the house, iBingo operates as an online, real-time format where players actively compete directly against each other.
Kirkland Lake Bingo Hall Acquisition
In March, Betty announced the acquisition of Kirkland Lake Bingo Hall, supporting its movement into regulated iBingo. The deal has enabled Betty to operate within Ontario’s regulated charitable bingo framework, helping to grow the charitable funding that flows back into local communities.
A portion of all Betty iGaming revenue in Ontario is going towards charitable funding. To date, the company said on its website it has donated just over $3.45 million to charity.
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Rephrased by The Mystic Gambler