Sports gambling in 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 many provincial casinos. Casino earnings in Windsor as well as the Niagara Falls where increased security at the border and high Canadian dollar have caused fewer visitors from America, have been sagging and to give them 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 has been 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 result of football, hockey, baseball, soccer, basketball and other sports activities as apposed to the Parlay multiple betting system that exists under the government run Pro-Line lottery.
The brand new sportsbooks will give the casinos in Ontario an extremely huge advantage over US rivals as sportsbook gambling is not allowed in most states other than Nevada Las Vegas and some others. It is because sports leagues that are professional are against having the sportsbooks in cities that have baseball, basketball, football and hockey teams.
A hitch in getting 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 within the casinos of Niagara Falls and Windsor will 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 experienced layoffs at the Casinos at Niagara recently along with a decline in Fort Erie racetrack patronage because of boost in competition (the New York state has better exchange rates) as well as other issues at the border etc. Therefore it is obvious that a trustworthy, 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 allowed in Canada. This is because it will attract the Americans towards 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 also other countries where sports gambling is legalized.
The Ontario Government that owns the Casino Windsor hopes the sports gambling in Ontario will increase with the improvements being created in this casino. The brand new Legends Sports Lounge, 36 video-displays, comfortable leather chairs and excellent food will draw in the sports fans from all over. The prosperity of sports gambling in Ontario will also depend on how the bettors accept the games offered by the casinos.