All About the Ontario Gambling Market
Gambling operators are eagerly awaiting permission from the Canadian Gaming Association to continue their operations in Ontario. Then the operators will be able to re-offer bets on sports events in casinos and bookmakers in the region. On this occasion, the head of the association Paul Burns commented. He assured the market that in the first quarter of next year, the market will open up with new opportunities.
Recall that at the end of August this year, new bets on the game were introduced in Canada. Currently, these services are provided by lottery offices, including OLG and BCLC. However, other private operators are awaiting their permission to make money with renewed vigour in the market. This applies to FanDuel, DraftKings, PointsBet Canada, and BetMGM.
Burns said last week that the specialists cannot yet set a specific date for the market opening. Although it is known for sure that this will not happen until the first quarter of 2022. iGaming Ontario and the Ontario Alcohol and Gambling Commission are committed to making this happen as early as possible.
Tony Bitonti has been made responsible for the regulation of land-based casinos in Ontario and is now with OLG. Tony said the corporation is working on a strategy that allows casinos to offer bets on a single sporting event. The company is currently negotiating with suppliers. Moreover, there is close communication with the AGCO management, the topic of regulatory conditions for the integration of bookmaker agencies is being discussed.
Burns noted that some casinos that have already reopened are unhappy with how things are progressing about betting on a single sporting event. This applies to individual sports. Therefore, Burns shares the frustration with these casinos. At the moment, bookmakers are still awaiting integration into the region’s casinos.
In addition, Mr. Burns said that it will be very difficult to launch the market before the Super Bowl. This event is considered the largest event in the world of sports and betting. However, the operators are expecting some changes, first of all, it concerns futures rates.
To open up the market to new opportunities, the City of Ontario introduced AGCO’s subsidiary iGaming Ontario. It is this organization that will regulate all online games in the gambling world. The same company will be responsible for evaluating operator applications and licenses.