Online gambling, especially sports betting, has always been popular in Canada. However, the country didn’t legalize anything, instead leaving provinces to decide on the laws on their own. We’ve seen this model in US states and it works, with each county/state/province deciding the legality of online sports betting and casino gambling. The same approach was applied to Canada, and Ontario didn’t lose time legalizing it first. Here is some information on the laws on sports betting in Ontario and everything you need to know.
In the past few years, Canada has seen major iGaming reforms. Ontario’s legal online gambling launched at the beginning of 2022 and has so far seen major success. Single-event sports betting came into force in mid-2021, prompting a slew of operators to hit the market. In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the online sports betting laws in Ontario.
History of Sports Betting in Ontario
Ontario didn’t waste any shot at legalizing online sports betting as soon as the government allowed it to. Actually, sports betting was legal in Ontario and the whole of Canada for decades. However, it was only available in a parlay form and via provincial lotteries. It all changed with Canada’s Bill C-129, which opened the doors for single-game sports betting online.
After a bit of a wait, Ontario announced in January 2022 that legal sports betting would launch in April of that year. The floodgates for it were opened. Many major operators started knocking on Ontario’s door, with operators such as 888, Unibet, and bet365 paving the way for legal gambling with Bally Bet in Ontario. It was a historic moment as many bettors have been looking for an opportunity to place single-game bets via legal operators.
Who Regulates Online Sports Betting in Ontario?
Online sports betting in Ontario is regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission in Ontario. That’s nothing new – similar lottery commissions regulate betting and gambling elsewhere. The AGCO is the most important governing body for online sports betting in the province. It regulates all operators with sports event betting offerings as they become available. The AGCO covers online sports betting, online gambling in general, and lotteries, while its regulatory framework also focuses on player protection.
In short, it keeps operators on a leash and ensures they operate to the highest standards. While casino sites and betting sites are allowed to offer sports events, they operate under strict and unique advertising expectations.
Do Operators Need a License?
Yes, they do. Licenses are what makes them legal, and they don’t come for cheap. Every online sportsbook that wants to operate on the market must pay $100,000 for the license. They must also pay a 20% tax rate on sports betting revenue and must have a partner in brick-and-mortar venues. That’s similar to the model used by the USA, where online gambling operators must partner with land-based venues.
How Many Operators Are There?
It didn’t take long for operators to hit the market. There are over 30 operators providing their services to Ontario bettors. Some of them are major operators known around the world, others are new arrivals looking to outbid the rest of the crowd. One thing’s for sure – online sports betting is very popular in the province, and there will be many new faces in the crowd in the coming years.
Besides the sports betting sites, there’s one legal betting exchange too. That’s STX, and it allows players to trade betting markets instead of betting against the house. This results in much better odds, although it’s a bit more complicated than simply putting your money at a traditional sportsbook.
What Can You Bet on Legally in Ontario?
According to the laws, every sport is covered. The only thing the AGCO doesn’t control is horse racing, which is regulated under completely different rules. AGCO’s approach to horse racing is to ensure fairness and safety in racing, for which it collaborates with veterinary institutes and the CPMA (Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency) that ensure drug elimination guidelines.
Outside of horse racing, the best Ontario bookies offer an extensive range of sports to bet on. Those include the fairly popular NFL, ice hockey, soccer, basketball, tennis, and more. They come packed with hundreds of markets that go beyond the simple money line. That’s a great and very popular market, but bettors can also put their money on handicaps, point spreads, and even live betting markets.
Esports is an emerging market too, with some sportsbooks offering live streams of the top matches in this sport. There’s plenty to look forward to, and it’s all regulated and managed by the AGCO.
How to Access Online Betting Legally in Ontario?
Let’s make things clear right away – the only way to access legal sports betting in Ontario is via the regulated apps or OLG Proline Plus. That’s Ontario’s main legacy sportsbook operated by the lottery. These are the only ways to legally bet on sports online in the province, and you can access any betting site regulated by the AGCO via desktop and mobile devices.
It’s important to mention that OLG Proline can only be accessed via a registered lottery retailer. Proline Plus can be accessed online on your personal device, be it a PC, laptop, or mobile device.
Player Protection
The AGCO doesn’t just issue licenses and regulate betting online in Ontario – it’s also responsible for player protection. It focuses on useful information about responsible gambling while requiring operators to monitor betting markets and prohibiting certain insiders such as coaches from betting on sports online. Operators must also provide access to player protection tools which are used to minimize and prevent gambling-related hard.
What Does the Future Hold?
The future for online sports betting in Ontario is certainly bright. There are 30 operators live so far, and many more to come in the future. Betting sites are a popular entertainment tool for many players – especially the youth and will provide players with exciting bonuses and great odds on the most popular sports in the country including ice hockey and American football.
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Featured Image: Getty Images/Bob Riha, Jr.
