Sports gambling within Ontario
The sports gambling in Ontario has taken a new turn with the Ontario and Federal Governments moving towards permitting sports gambling (in the Vegas style) in several provincial casinos. Casino revenues in Windsor as well as the Niagara Falls where increased security at the border and high Canadian dollar have caused fewer visitors from America, are actually sagging and to give them a lift Ottawa has been urged by Queens Park to amend and alter the Criminal Code of Canada and to create legal casino sportsbooks.
Casinos in Ontario already have infrastructure of sportsbooks with scoreboards, seating and TV screens in place but the betting has been restricted to Pro-line where they are able to select the results or outcomes of only three or more events over a “Parlay” betting ticket. The new gambling proposal would allow sports gamblers to put bets for the result of football, hockey, baseball, soccer, basketball and other sporting events as apposed for the Parlay multiple betting system that exists under the government run Pro-Line lottery.
The new sportsbooks would give the casinos in Ontario a very huge advantage over US rivals as sportsbook gambling is not allowed in most states except Nevada Las Vegas and a few others. It is because sports leagues that are professional are in opposition to getting the sportsbooks in cities which may have baseball, basketball, football and hockey teams.
A hitch in obtaining approval to change 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 which are political. Nevertheless the undeniable fact that sports gambling in the casinos of Niagara Falls and Windsor might be a great competitive benefit and advantage as sports gambling is regarded as illegal in New York and Michigan.
Sadly the residents of Niagara have experienced layoffs in the Casinos at Niagara recently and also a decline in Fort Erie racetrack patronage due to increase in competition (the New York state has better exchange rates) and other issues on the border etc. So it is obvious that a reliable, professional and effectively 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. This is because it can attract the Americans to the Niagara Falls and Windsor border casinos and offer excellent entertainment and fun. Currently 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 will also be determined by the way the bettors accept the games provided by the casinos.
