Ontario is considering a strategy to combat offshore online gambling sites operating in the province,
Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa says that offering a safe online alternative run by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. would be the best way to counter the spread of unlicensed online gambling.
Sousa says he is watching moves being made by Quebec to expand that province’s reach beyond its borders to regulate offshore gambling sites.
“We’re looking closely at what they’re doing, but I’m nowhere near determining how we would actually enforce that,” Sousa told Sun News. “I’m interested. I’m having a joint cabinet meeting with the ministers of Quebec in the coming days, and I look forward to seeing how they’re going to proceed.”
Quebec is also considering whether to license private gaming sites, allowing them to operate legally in the province under tight regulations.
The Ontario government estimates that its citizens spend about $400 million-$500 million on online gaming annually with proceeds flowing to offshore websites, according to Sun News.
Ontario’s lottery is currently testing its own online gaming site.
