Guide to Online Sports Betting & Online Casino in Ontario
Sports betting has been legalized in Canada in recent years, thanks to legislation allowing provinces to set their own rules for when it is acceptable to do so. While other provinces have legalized a wide range of gambling activities, including sports betting, Ontario has remained a bit of an anomaly in this regard. As the most populous province in Canada, Ontario is home to several well-known sports teams, including the Toronto Maple Leafs. Despite the fact that the sports industry is a major part of the province’s economy, the number of places where it is legal to bet on them is still very small when compared to other jurisdictions. There are currently only two legal options for online sportsbook betting in Ontario: the one-province regulated option and offshore offerings. However, it is expected that newly licensed services will be allowed to start operating in the province by the end of the year.
Licensed Providers
To inform the public of their newfound legality as online gaming operators in Ontario, PointsBet, theScore, and Rivalry Corp. all released statements detailing their expected upcoming launch dates in the Ontario market. In order to complete the registration process, the operators must now sign operating agreements with AGCO subsidiary iGaming Ontario and fulfill all other procedural requirements. BetMGM, based in the United States, and DraftKings are both vying for a slice of the Ontario hockey and football markets. Existing sportsbooks seeking permits to operate in Ontario have submitted over 30 applications.
Regulating Organizations
Regulators for Ontario’s gaming industry that issue licenses include the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and its subsidiary, iGaming Ontario (iGO). The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) reports to the Ministry of the Attorney General in all matters concerning gaming. The AGCO is in charge of overseeing the alcoholic beverage, gaming, and horse racing industries in a way that promotes public trust and safety. When internet gaming is provided by private gaming operators, iGaming OntarioTM is the agency of the Ontario government that conducts and manages the activity. iGaming Ontario, a subsidiary of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), was established in July 2021 to provide residents of Ontario with a more secure environment in which to gamble online.
Ontario’s Favorite Sports Teams
If you’re looking for a place to place a wager on a sports team in Ontario, consider one of these well-known organizations.
Toronto Maple Leafs
A professional hockey team based in Toronto, the Toronto Maple Leafs are part of the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division in the NHL. Toronto’s Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, a company that owns a number of professional sports teams in the city, owns the club. It is the Scotiabank Arena where they play.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays are a professional baseball team based in Toronto, Ontario, that plays in the American League East division of Major League Baseball. Rogers Centre is where they play home games.
Toronto Raptors
Located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team from Canada. The Toronto Raptors are a member of the Eastern Conference Atlantic Division of the National Basketball Association. They are home-based at the Scotiabank Arena
The Toronto FC
Canadian soccer team Toronto Football Club is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The team represents the Eastern Conference in Major League Soccer. BMO Field, on Toronto’s waterfront west of downtown, is where the team’s home games are held.
Current Laws in Ontario
C-218, a game-changing bill introduced in Parliament in 2021, was the culmination of a campaign to legalize sports betting in Canada. The bill, which would amend the criminal code to allow provinces to legalize single-game sports betting, was straightforward, with horse racing being the only exception. Single-game wagering is expected to be introduced in most, if not all, of Canada’s provinces because of the widespread support for sports betting. On the 23rd of June, C-218 was finally approved by Parliament.
The OLG’s PROLINE+, or a licensed offshore alternative, is currently available to Ontario residents, allowing them to place bets from anywhere in the province. It is expected that on April 4, 2022, the new iGaming market will open its doors to consumers in Ontario, giving them more options for online single-wager sports betting. Online sportsbooks could go live on that date if the 30 current applications are approved. Just over seven months after single-event wagering was introduced to Canada, the eagerly awaited April 2022 launch is finally here.
In August 2021, Ontario will legalize and regulate single-game sports betting. Aside from single-game online sports betting, which has been available through the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) since August 27, 2021. Parlay bets and parimutuel wagers have been legal in Ontario since 1985. There have also been in-person casinos operating in Ontario for some time now.
PROLINE+ also accepts bets from residents of Ontario, who must be at least 19 years old to wager on sports online. You can place in-person wagers at an OLG Lottery terminal if you are 18 years of age or older. Single-game wagering will be available at approximately 10,000 Ontario retailers beginning on February 1, 2022.
