claim bonus on their Canadian-facing pages to study the layout and KYC prompts used for C$ withdrawals.
This is the part where the asset team and payments/product team must align: imagery that implies payout (C$1,000 jackpots) triggers stricter verification and PR review, so use neutral phrasing or “example amounts” unless you have documented reserves.
## File naming, version control and release (quick rules)
– File name pattern: STUDIO_CAMPAIGN_LOCATION_YYYYMMDD_v01.CR2 → e.g., NORTHSPIN_CANADA_20251122_v01.CR2; this helps legal search by date (DD/MM/YYYY).
– Versioning: preserve originals; only ingest approved derivatives into Git/Design repo; tag PRs with province (e.g., “ON” for Ontario) to show which regulator’s rules were followed.
– Retention: keep RAW masters 24 months minimum; export receipts for any paid talent for the same period.
These rules work hand-in-hand with compliance checks for iGO/AGCO or the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, depending on your operational license.
## Quick Checklist — ready-to-use (for Canadian projects)
– [ ] Model & property releases collected and scanned (retain originals for 24 months).
– [ ] EXIF/IPTC/XMP metadata populated with campaign ID and territory (“Canada — all provinces” or specify).
– [ ] Masters in RAW + TIFF stored in DAM with checksums.
– [ ] Web variants created (JPG/WEBP) sized for Rogers/Bell mobile delivery.
– [ ] Monetary props cleared OR replaced with CGI.
– [ ] Local payment instructions included (Interac e-Transfer, iDebit, Instadebit) on landing pages.
– [ ] Licensing/regulator sign-off recorded (iGO or Kahnawake as applicable).
Following this checklist will cut days off approval times and prevent costly re-shoots, which we see most often when promotions mention jackpots in C$.
## Common mistakes and how to avoid them (for Canadian devs)
1. Using recognisable local landmarks without permission — fix: get location release or blur landmarks; this prevents privacy & municipal issues and reduces regulator noise.
2. Showing minors in gaming-adjacent contexts (even in the background) — fix: strict on-set exclusion zones and a hands-only hero shot fallback.
3. Forgetting to localize currency (showing $ instead of C$) — fix: always display C$ in the artwork and in metadata (C$1,000.50 format).
4. Not validating for provincial differences (Ontario vs ROC) — fix: tag assets per province and restrict ON-specific promos if you lack iGO license.
5. Relying on a single image aspect ratio — fix: always export hero, mobile, and square crops to avoid awkward automated cropping on social.
Addressing these errors early saves money and prevents promo takedowns during Canada Day or Boxing Day spikes.
## Mini-FAQ (for Canadian teams)
Q: Do Canadian gambling winnings need to show tax information in promo images?
A: No for recreational players — gambling winnings are generally tax-free in Canada — but advertising must not be misleading; keep payout language factual and include terms and conditions. This point connects to regulator expectations, which we’ll list in Sources.
Q: Which payment methods should visual assets reference to feel local?
A: Mention Interac e-Transfer, iDebit, Instadebit, or MuchBetter in explanatory banners; avoid implying instant wire withdrawals for bank transfers. This ensures users know deposit options and avoids confusion at checkout.
Q: Are there province-specific image restrictions?
A: Yes — Ontario (iGO/AGCO) has stricter advertising rules; tag assets that will run in ON and have legal pre-clear them. That prevents compliance rejections.
Q: Where should I store model releases?
A: In the DAM tied to each asset with cross-referenced IDs and encrypted backups for at least two years.
Q: How do I handle a big jackpot promo image?
A: Use conservatively worded example amounts (e.g., “Win up to C$1,000,000 — T&Cs apply”), and ensure finance has reserves and compliance has pre-approved the copy.
## Responsible gaming & regulatory notes (Canada-focused)
18+ or 19+ depending on province (Quebec/Alberta/Manitoba may allow 18+). Always include a clear responsible gaming message and links to local help resources such as PlaySmart and GameSense where the ad runs, and never depict minors. Also remember: Ontario requires specific ad disclosures under iGaming Ontario rules, so keep province-tagged assets for ON separate from the rest of Canada to avoid accidental distribution.
If you want to review a live example of a Canadian-facing casino landing and its KYC flow for reference, study the landing layout and Interac guidance on a sample site — you can also claim bonus to inspect the Canadian deposit/withdrawal copy and KYC steps they present to users in different provinces.
## Sources
– iGaming Ontario (iGO) / AGCO regulatory guidance (search iGO advertising rules).
– Kahnawake Gaming Commission (general host licenses).
– Interac Canada documentation for Interac e-Transfer / Interac Online.
– Provincial responsible gaming resources: PlaySmart, GameSense.
## About the Author
I’m a Canadian-facing product/creative lead with hands-on experience delivering casino and betting launches coast to coast, coordinating shoots in Toronto and Vancouver and working with compliance teams to clear promos for Ontario and ROC campaigns. I obsess over metadata, model releases, and local payment flows — and I’m pragmatic about what saves time (and C$) on launch day.
Disclaimer: This guide is practical and not legal advice. Check with your legal and compliance teams before running any commercial gaming campaign. If you need a condensed checklist or an asset-template ZIP for your DAM (including IPTC templates and model-release forms), ask and I’ll share a starter package tailored to Canadian provinces.