The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation recently debuted the Fire Horse online slot-machine game on Play OLG.ca. OLG Senior Vice President of Horse Racing Cal Bricker said, “Launching Fire Horse is the latest step OLG is taking in partnership with the horseracing industry and Ontario government to integrate horseracing into the provincial gaming strategy. It represents progress on integration by using a new gaming platform to increase awareness of the industry while further demonstrating OLG’s support for horse racing in Ontario.”
Registered users on Play OLG.ca can try the game for free at the site’s new horseracing section. The page also includes racing industry information and links to both the Ontario Horse Racing website and HorsePlayer Interactive, the online wagering system operated by the Toronto-based Woodbine Entertainment Group, owners of Mohawk Racetrack in Campbellville and Woodbine Racetrack near Toronto Pearson International Airport.
The lottery corporation’s first horse-themed product, the province’s horseracing industry helped develop the game. More horse-themed products are expected in the future. Observers said launching Fire Horse follows OLG’s addition of a vice president of horse racing last August and is another indication Premier Kathleen Wynne is moving forward to integrate slots and racing, especially since her predecessor Dalton McGuinty cancelled the Slots at Racetracks program.
It has not been announced whether the horseracing industry will receive a percentage of Fire Horse revenue or only will benefit from increased exposure and the link to wagering on the races.
