The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s monopoly on online gambling in the Canadian province could end as plans are being made to introduce legislation to open up the market to private operators.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation is the only operator approved to offer online gambling in the province through its PlayOGA.ca website. But the government has also not cracked down on offshore, black market operators so many bettors in Ontario choose those sites over the government monopoly. It’s unclear if the Ontario government will do more to block illegal online wagering in the province.
However, the province’s government has outlined plans to end the lottery’s monopoly in budget plans and now appears ready to introduce legislation to establish a more open market. Plans are for the province’s Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) to serve as regulator for the market. In addition, a AGCO subsidiary will manage the relationships between the government and licensed operators and affiliates.
The Ontario government said it will also encourage the Canadian federal government to sports betting across the country. A bill that would repeal existing laws and make it legal for Canadians to wager on single sporting events is scheduled to be introduced into the country’s parliament. Currently only parlay betting (wagering on two or more outcomes) is permitted.
The Canadian Gaming Association hailed the measure.
“As we grapple with the economic recovery from novel coronavirus, it will be helpful for Ontario to generate revenue from the licensing and taxation of offshore online operators who qualify to operate in Ontario,” CGA president and chief executive Paul Burns said in a press statement. “It will also allow land-based casino operators to access online gaming, enabling them to diversify their entertainment options and interact with customers outside of property walls.”
