Casinos in Ontario, Canada got good news recently when the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) ruled that sportsbook lounges and kiosks will be allowed in properties throughout the province.
It has seemingly taken longer than expected. Sports betting has been legal since September 2021, when applications for licenses were accepted. Sports betting went live on April 4.
Canadian Gaming Association president and CEO Paul Burns was critical of the OLG for the delay and said it was frustrating. He was quick to congratulate them on the recent announcement, however.
“This ongoing collaboration will result in new and expanded options for sports betting, including some first-of-their-kind sportsbooks in Canada, which will attract more people to visit Ontario’s casinos and encourage continued growth across the industry,” Burns said.
Casinos wasted no time in planning sports wagering after the OLG made the announcement. Kambi was the first, inking a deal with Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment to have a sports betting presence in its Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara.
Great Canadian Entertainment has 12 casinos in Ontario and Chuck Keeling, executive vice president, Great Canadian Entertainment, told CDC Gaming Reports that he welcomes the news.
“We feel OLG’s approval of sports betting for Ontario casinos is strategically important for a company like Great Canadian Entertainment, considering we recently undertook a rebrand of the company to emphasize the well-rounded and dynamic guest experience we are striving for at our 25 properties across Canada,” Keeling said. “The ability to offer sports betting and sportsbooks at our Ontario properties is yet another milestone toward that goal.”
Keeling added that sports betting kiosks or lounges will also be added to the planned renovation of the Pickering Casino Resort, just east of Toronto and Casino Woodbine. Caesars Windsor has sports betting kiosks, but Keeling told CDC Gaming Reports they are planning on adding a sports betting lounge as well.
