Which Sports Can I Bet on in Ontario?
As of March 9, Ontario has seven registered online gaming operators, including five sports betting operators. That includes 888sport, BetRivers, PointsBet Canada, Rivalry, Caesars sportsbook, Sports Interaction sportsbook, DraftKings sportsbook and theScore Bet. Although it’s uncertain how many Ontario sports betting legal websites will debut on April 04, the province is about to enter uncharted territory as Canada’s first province to welcome some of the industry’s biggest players. In fact, thirty internet sportsbooks and gambling sites have already submitted applications to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG).
The much-anticipated April introduction will take place little over seven months since Canada’s first single-event wagering option launched. In August 2021, Ontario became the first province in Canada to legalize single game sports wagering. From Toronto’s beloved Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, and Toronto Blue Jays to neighboring Ontario teams like the NHL’s Ottawa Senators and CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats, there are plenty of exciting sports events for Ontario residents to bet on at any given moment.
Mobile Sports Betting in Ontario
The road to legal online sports betting in Ontario has been a long and difficult one. However, on April 4, 2022, when private sportsbooks in Ontario will be able to release their mobile apps, the light at the end of the tunnel should shine brightly. Ontario sports fans and sports bettors will be able to bet online on several sporting events. Within Ontario, Proline+ is presently the only formally legal sports betting mobile app. That’s because the OLG runs PROLINE+, which is the only AGCO-certified platform. On January 28, 2022, it was revealed that PROLINE+ would soon be facing opposition from the private sports betting sites in Ontario. When the market will open on April 4. This implies that PROLINE+ will no longer be the only mobile sports betting solution for Ontario customers. This allows them to select from a variety of outstanding sportsbook applications.
Ontario Sports Betting Market
The emergence of the new market is expected to result in a significant increase in betting opportunities, as well as many contests to participate in. The most important sporting events include the start of the NBA playoffs, the Stanley Cup Finals, and the UEFA Champions League. Ontario sports fans should not be concerned that they missed out on the Super Bowl or March Madness. Even in April, there will be a plethora of activities to put sports bets and free bets on. There are for instance the NBA playoffs in April, the Stanley Cup playoffs in May. The UEFA Champions League semifinals and final will also be in May.
In addition to that, there are many other online sports betting events throughout the year. According to TheScore’s founder and CEO, John Levy, the wait for the market’s inception will be worthwhile. He said that he is not concerned about the Canada sports betting market launching date. Because sports betting will be here for a long time, and that NFL season and Major League Soccer will return before we know it, as well as many more Super Bowls in the future.
The Future of Sports Betting and Online Casinos
This indicates that Ontario’s plans are the most concrete as of now. For months, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has been working on, discussing, and seeking input for their iGaming initiative, which will allow consumers to play various online sportsbooks and online casinos soon. The AGCO’s primary aim is to provide a secure, legitimate market for online sports betting.
They want to keep the industry free of illicit activities like game rigging and insider wagering by providing security. Meanwhile, the Atlantic Lottery Corporation, which regulates gaming in the small provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, has stated that it will follow a similar procedure. The ALC is planning to bring single game wagering to the Atlantic Provinces. And it will allow Canadian sports enthusiast to bet with legal sportsbooks.