Sports betting in Ontario
The sports gambling in Ontario has taken a new turn with the Ontario and Federal Governments moving to allowing sports gambling (in the Vegas style) in several provincial casinos. Casino revenues 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 change 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 restricted to Pro-line where they are able to select the results or outcomes of only three or more events on a “Parlay” betting ticket. The new gambling proposal will allow sports gamblers to place bets on the outcome of football, hockey, baseball, soccer, basketball and other sporting events as apposed to the Parlay multiple betting system that exists under the government run Pro-Line lottery.
The brand new sportsbooks will give the casinos in Ontario an extremely huge advantage over US competitors as sportsbook gambling is not allowed in most states other than Nevada Las Vegas and a few others. This is because sports leagues that are professional are against having the sportsbooks in cities which may have baseball, basketball, football and hockey teams.
A hitch in obtaining approval to alter Ontarios Criminal Code could be that the minority government of Federal Conservatives is anxious that 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 considered unlawful in New York and Michigan.
Sadly the residents of Niagara have experienced layoffs in the Casinos at Niagara recently along with a decline in Fort Erie racetrack patronage due to boost in competition (the New York state has better exchange rates) and other issues on the border etc. So it is obvious that a trustworthy, professional and properly regulated sportsbooks would help reduce the illegal sports gambling that is occurring on unregulated websites and offshore sites. Sports gambling or betting is a good tourist draw and must be permitted in Canada. It is because it will attract the Americans to the Niagara Falls and Windsor border casinos and provide excellent entertainment and fun. At present gamblers in Canada bet with sports books based in the UK, Caribbean and other countries where sports gambling is legalized.
The Ontario Government that owns the Casino Windsor hopes that the sports gambling in Ontario increases with the improvements being created in this casino. The new Legends Sports Lounge, 36 video-displays, comfortable leather chairs and excellent food will draw in the sports fans from all over. The success of sports gambling in Ontario may also be determined by the way the bettors accept the games provided by the casinos.
