Sports betting in Ontario
The sports gambling in Ontario has taken a different turn with the Ontario and Federal Governments moving towards permitting sports gambling (in the Vegas style) in several provincial casinos. Casino earnings in Windsor as well as the Niagara Falls where increased security on the border and high Canadian dollar have caused fewer visitors from America, have been sagging and to give them a boost Ottawa has been urged by Queens Park to amend and alter the Criminal Code of Canada and also to create legal casino sportsbooks.
Casinos in Ontario have already got infrastructure of sportsbooks with scoreboards, seating and TV screens in place however the betting is being limited to Pro-line where they are able to select the results or outcomes of only three or even more events over a “Parlay” betting ticket. The latest gambling proposal would allow sports gamblers to put bets on the outcome of football, hockey, baseball, soccer, basketball as well as other sporting events as apposed to the Parlay multiple betting system that exists in the government run Pro-Line lottery.
The new sportsbooks will give the casinos in Ontario a very huge advantage over US rivals as sportsbook gambling is not allowed in many states other than Nevada Las Vegas and some others. This is because sports leagues that are professional are in opposition to having the sportsbooks in cities which may have baseball, basketball, football and hockey teams.
A hitch in getting approval to alter Ontarios Criminal Code is that the minority government of Federal Conservatives is anxious the New Democrats or the Federal Liberals will oppose this transformation for purposes that are political. However the fact that sports gambling in the casinos of Niagara Falls and Windsor will be a fantastic competitive benefit and advantage as sports gambling is regarded as illegal in New York and Michigan.
Unfortunately the residents of Niagara have experienced layoffs in the Casinos at Niagara recently and also a decline in Fort Erie racetrack patronage because of boost in competition (the New York state has better exchange rates) as well as other issues at the border etc. Therefore it is obvious that a reliable, professional and effectively regulated sportsbooks would help in reducing the illegal sports gambling which is taking place on unregulated websites and offshore sites. Sports gambling or betting is a superb tourist draw and should be permitted in Canada. This is because it will attract the Americans towards the Niagara Falls and Windsor border casinos and provide excellent entertainment and fun. At present gamblers in Canada bet with sports books located in the UK, Caribbean and also other countries where sports gambling is legalized.
The Ontario Government which owns the Casino Windsor hopes that the sports gambling in Ontario will increase with the improvements being made in this casino. The new Legends Sports Lounge, 36 video-displays, comfortable leather chairs and excellent food will attract the sports fans coming from all over. The success of sports gambling in Ontario will also be determined by the way the bettors embrace the games provided by the casinos.