Ontario Casino Regulations
How is Ontario's system for casino regulation different from B.C.' The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is an independent Crown agency. They report to the Ontario attorney general.
The online gambling situation in Canada’s most densely populated province is changing, as 2019 marks the introduction of a new blueprint for online gambling in Ontario by theConservative government. The proposal is intended to end the current monopoly and regulate gambling with offshore companies, among other things.
- Complete Online Gambling Guide for Canadians in 2020 - Learn about Canadian gambling laws, casino regulation, playing securely & common player options.
- Licensing Authorities in Ontario. The gaming law is enforced by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. Some provinces share the same agency, but Ontario has its own. It was established in 1998 and its job is to care for the public interest and oversee all gambling activities so that they are considered socially responsible.
- Ontario business regulations. The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 (SFOA, 2017) received Royal Assent on December 12, 2017, and is scheduled to come into force on a day to be proclaimed by the Lieutenant Governor.
Is online gambling legal in Ontario?
At the moment, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) is the sole entity that is approved to offer online gambling inthe province, via the PlayOGA.ca website. For this reason, many players are turning to offshore online casinos, spending around CA$110 million in this way. Online gambling withoffshore companies from Canada is not in any way illegal, but it may prove problematic for players who end up seeking legal protection, since there is no Canadian law to protect this activity.
Ontario Casinos Map
Ontario online gambling laws – the changes ahead
In April 2019, the Conservative government revealed its intention to end the online gambling monopoly by paving the way for a competitive market “that will reflect consumer choice whileprotecting consumers who play on these websites” (Source: igambingbusiness.com). This will involve the introduction of new brands in the province, by allowing other online operators to apply for licensesto offer their services in Ontario.
The government also revealed its plan to legalize single-event sports betting, as currently only betting on multiple events and parlay is allowed. The plan has the support ofNHL ice hockey league commissioner Gary Bettman, NBA Basketball Commissioner Adam Silver and Canadian Football league commissioner Randy Ambrosie. At the moment, the best option for sportsbettors in Canada is to place their bets with online betting sites operatedby companies overseas, which offer single event betting and highly competitive odds on a range of sports.
Although the blueprint is intended to do away with the monopoly in Canada and to keep more money within its borders, there are also plans to regulate gambling with offshore companies. As PaulBurns, Chief Executive Officer for the CGA puts it, “We have seen significant growth in the amount of wagering with offshore websites and we welcome the move to create a regulatory systemfor offshore sites to better protect consumers.” (Source: World Casino Directory).
Online gambling Ontario news
Canada Casino will be the first to update its visitors about any changes in the online gambling situation in Ontario. In the meantime, check out our Canadian online casino reviews to learn how to identify offshore casinos online that are open for Canadians and that offer a secure andfair gambling experience.
Ontario is considered one of the more progressive provinces in Canada. It’s got an MLS team, two NHL teams, three CFL teams, and the only NBA and MLB squads in the Great White North. Also, with over 14 million, Ontario is the most populated area and the second-largest in total area with an amazing number of lakes, 250,000 freshwater lakes.
With so many sports fans, it’s a shame that they have to deal with some really inferior sports betting products served by the government which can also be found in the other provinces as well all over Canada. This is why some of the wiser sports betting enthusiasts try to discover some better online options that are not tied to the official sports betting lottery in the country.
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Sports Betting in Ontario
Contents
The residents of Ontario have access to some of the best sports teams in the country. Both pro and second level teams are very much exciting. Unfortunately, the wagering system provided and controlled by the government is of a lower caliber. It doesn’t offer the same excitement as off-shore online sports betting options do.
The current OLG Proline betting system provided is considered caveman today because people have to use paper and pencil to complete their selection process. This form is still present in some other countries too, but that doesn’t mean it’s supported.
And although wagers can be placed fairly easy by going to the nearest retail store which can be any store, there are much better and more accessible options online that doesn’t include leaving your home to make the bet. To make things worse, you can’t do that through the OLG Proline website. You can preview the selections list, but you still have to make the trip to place the bet.
Ontario Casino News
The main features that characterize this system are:
- Five different odds categories
- No single game betting is allowed
- Tickets have to be purchased in your local retail store
But, the biggest drawback is not the trip making or the no single game betting rule. It’s the odds. They are really inferior when comparing them to the odds found at off-shore sports betting websites, where the competition is fiercer, which results with more favorable odds. It’s as if the OLG Proline group is guided by the “something is better than nothing” thought.
On top of that, some of the betting rules are downright unfair. For example, NFL bettors must choose whether the visitor or home team will win, which is OK. But, they have to predict that the team will win by at least 8 points. They can also make a Tie bet, but in that case the game must be decided by 3 points or less. In the online sports betting world this is considered completely unfair.
Gambling Law in Ontario
Despite all of the drawbacks with the government controlled sports betting lottery, Canada is considered one of the more relaxed countries towards gambling and sports betting. All gambling forms are legally regulated with the 1992 Gaming Control Act. With the Act, a way was made open for the first ever land-based casino in the province of Ontario.
So, sports betting is legal. And not only offline, but online too. There is a legal grey are in Ontario and all over Canada regarding online betting, which has not been addressed in any provincial law. The law says that it’s illegal for players to bet at unlicensed betting houses, but considering all off-shore sports betting websites are licensed somewhere, this does not concern bettors.
As a result, online betting is considered legal, and the citizens of Ontario or Canada in global are not persecuted for placing wagers at off-shore sports betting websites. On top of that, their winnings are not taxed at all.
Licensing Authorities in Ontario
The gaming law is enforced by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. Some provinces share the same agency, but Ontario has its own. It was established in 1998 and its job is to care for the public interest and oversee all gambling activities so that they are considered socially responsible.
Casinos In Ontario Canada
Population of Ontario
Ontario is the second-largest province in Canada in total area, but the biggest in population. This province has 14 million residents and accounts for nearly 40% of all Canadians. The majority of Ontarians are of European decent, which means English, Scottish, Italian, Irish and French. The majority of the people in Ontario consider themselves Catholic and Protestant, but there is also a great deal that have not professed any religious affiliation. The official language is English, while French is largely spoken in the northeastern parts.
Offline Betting Venues in Ontario
All of the offline venues that provide gambling services are owned and co-owned by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. They manage 10 land-based casinos and directly operate with:
The other are operated by private companies which are licensed by the OLG such as Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort, Caesars Windsor, and Niagara. When sports bettors want to play some slots or table games, they can do that outside of the casinos too at some of the racetracks across the province. There are also poker rooms in each of the 10 land-based casinos operated by OLG. The largest of all venues is the Casino Niagara.
Conclusion
Ontario Casino Regulations 2019
Ontarians like other Canadians have almost total freedom where to bet on sports. They have the option to make Proline bets, which is considered an inferior betting system, or to bet online where the variety is much bigger and the odds are much more favourable. At the moment sports betting is available only through retail stores, so players can’t bet on sports in casinos like in Las Vegas.