Sports gambling 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 many provincial casinos. Casino revenues 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 change the Criminal Code of Canada and 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 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 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 will give the casinos in Ontario an extremely huge advantage over US rivals as sportsbook gambling is just not allowed in many states other than Nevada Las Vegas and some others. This 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 alter Ontarios Criminal Code is that the minority government of Federal Conservatives is anxious that the New Democrats or the Federal Liberals will oppose this change for purposes that are political. However the fact that sports gambling in the casinos of Niagara Falls and Windsor might be a fantastic competitive benefit and advantage as sports gambling is regarded as unlawful in New York and Michigan.
Unfortunately the residents of Niagara have experienced layoffs at 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. Therefore it is obvious that a reliable, professional and effectively regulated sportsbooks would help in reducing the illegal sports gambling which is occurring on unregulated websites and offshore sites. Sports gambling or betting is a good tourist draw and should be allowed in Canada. It 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 located 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 will increase 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 from all over. The prosperity of sports gambling in Ontario may also be determined by how the bettors embrace the games provided by the casinos.
