A New Dawn for Daily Fantasy Sports and Poker
Back in April 2022, Ontario took a significant leap by launching a regulated online sports betting and casino market. These developments brought forth iGaming Ontario, a government-run agency designed to oversee and regulate this brand-new industry. It’s tasked with ensuring gaming operators meet strict standards for integrity, fairness, and consumer protection.
A key responsibility of iGaming Ontario is to issue licences to online casinos and sportsbooks in the province. However, their regulations currently do not make room for Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) and international poker rooms. Current laws have sidelined these gambling activities, seemingly preventing them from accepting players outside Ontario.
Ontario’s push to clarify iGambling laws
The Ontario government has been working to clarify the legal landscape surrounding these operations. As Ontario Attorney General spokesperson Jack Fazzari pointed out:
To resolve this, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and iGaming Ontario asked the Court of Appeal to decide whether DFS and international poker rooms are legal. To protect their market share, several provincial lottery corporations filed a joint motion to introduce evidence to the court arguing against iGaming Ontario.
Canadian Lottery Giants Make the Case Against Full Legalization
The Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC), British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), Lotteries and Gaming of Saskatchewan (LGS), and Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation (MBLL) all make the case that DFS and international live poker rooms should remain off-limits. They say legalization would negatively impact their provinces because residents would be more likely to join international betting sites, and the government stands to lose valuable tax dollars as a result.
The British Columbia government also submitted evidence making many of the same arguments around legalization, but interestingly, they have since withdrawn their evidence from the case.
Why this matters for online gaming in Ontario
You might wonder why this development is so significant. Here’s the deal: British Columbia was one of the key challengers to Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s position that DFS and international poker rooms should be legal. By withdrawing their evidence, the government has inadvertently paved the way for a more favourable outcome for players not just in Ontario, but across Canada.
Even though the evidence is likely similar to what the Canadian Lottery Coalition and others have submitted, having their name out of the lawsuit is a big blow to iGaming Ontario’s opponents. With the B.C. government out of the case, iGaming Ontario is more likely to win, enabling these specific markets for online casinos and sports betting to flourish.
The Future Looks Bright
Just imagine the excitement if DFS sites like FanDuel and DraftKings were able to operate again in Canada. Their return could provide access to millions of new players. Even the live poker scene in Ontario could see a boost, with players able to benefit from the diverse competition and higher stakes that global participation in these gaming markets could bring.
While there’s still a fair chance the Court could rule against Ontario, the momentum seems to be shifting in a positive direction. If, like me, you favour a more diverse online gambling landscape, this is definitely a story to watch closely. I know I’ll be following it with keen interest as it unfolds. Hold on tight, online gamers – these are exciting times indeed!
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