Sports betting within Ontario
The sports gambling in Ontario has taken a new turn with the Ontario and Federal Governments moving towards allowing sports gambling (in the Las 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 provide them with 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 set up however the betting is being limited to Pro-line where they can select the results or outcomes of only three or more events on a “Parlay” betting ticket. The latest gambling proposal will allow sports gamblers to place bets for the outcome 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 will give the casinos in Ontario a very huge advantage over US rivals as sportsbook gambling is not allowed in many states except Nevada Las Vegas and a few others. This is because sports leagues that are professional are in opposition to having the sportsbooks in cities that have baseball, basketball, football and hockey teams.
A hitch in obtaining approval to change Ontarios Criminal Code could be 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 within the casinos of Niagara Falls and Windsor will be a great competitive benefit and advantage as sports gambling is considered illegal in New York and Michigan.
Unfortunately the inhabitants of Niagara have experienced layoffs in the Casinos at Niagara recently along with a decline in Fort Erie racetrack patronage because of 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 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 superb tourist draw and should be permitted in Canada. This is because it will attract the Americans to the Niagara Falls and Windsor border casinos and provide excellent entertainment and fun. Currently gamblers in Canada bet with sports books located in the UK, Caribbean and also other countries where sports gambling is legalized.
The Ontario Government that owns the Casino Windsor hopes that the sports gambling in Ontario will increase together with the improvements being made in this casino. The brand new Legends Sports Lounge, 36 video-displays, comfortable leather chairs and excellent food will attract the sports fans from all over. The prosperity of sports gambling in Ontario may also be determined by the way the bettors embrace the games offered by the casinos.
