Sports gambling within Ontario
The sports gambling in Ontario has taken a different turn with the Ontario and Federal Governments moving towards allowing sports gambling (in the Vegas style) in many provincial casinos. Casino earnings in Windsor and 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 also to create legal casino sportsbooks.
Casinos in Ontario have already got infrastructure of sportsbooks with scoreboards, seating and TV screens in place but the betting has been restricted to Pro-line where they can 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 on the result of football, hockey, baseball, soccer, basketball and other sports activities 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 just not allowed in many states except Nevada Las Vegas and some 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 getting 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 might be a great competitive benefit and advantage as sports gambling is regarded as unlawful in New York and Michigan.
Sadly the inhabitants of Niagara have observed layoffs in the Casinos at Niagara recently and also a decline in Fort Erie racetrack patronage because of increase in competition (the New York state has better exchange rates) as well as other issues at the border etc. So it is obvious that a trustworthy, professional and properly regulated sportsbooks would help in reducing the illegal sports gambling that is taking place 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 can attract the Americans towards the Niagara Falls and Windsor border casinos and offer excellent entertainment and fun. At present gamblers in Canada bet with sports books based in the UK, Caribbean and also other countries where sports gambling is legalized.
The Ontario Government which owns the Casino Windsor hopes the sports gambling in Ontario will increase together with the improvements being created 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 depend on the way the bettors accept the games provided by the casinos.