Sports gambling within Ontario
The sports gambling in Ontario has taken a different turn with the Ontario and Federal Governments moving to permitting sports gambling (in the Las Vegas style) in several 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, are actually 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 already have infrastructure of sportsbooks with scoreboards, seating and TV screens in place but the betting has been limited to Pro-line where they can choose the results or outcomes of only three or even more events over a "Parlay" betting ticket. The new gambling proposal will allow sports gamblers to put bets for the result of football, hockey, baseball, soccer, basketball and other sports activities as apposed to the Parlay multiple betting system that exists in the government run Pro-Line lottery.
The new sportsbooks would give the casinos in Ontario a very huge advantage over US rivals as sportsbook gambling is just not allowed in most states except 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 obtaining approval to alter Ontarios Criminal Code is that the minority government of Federal Conservatives is anxious the New Democrats or the Federal Liberals will oppose this transformation for purposes that are political. Nevertheless the fact that sports gambling in the casinos of Niagara Falls and Windsor will be a fantastic competitive benefit and advantage as sports gambling is regarded as unlawful in New York and Michigan.
Unfortunately the inhabitants of Niagara have observed layoffs at the Casinos at Niagara recently and also a decline in Fort Erie racetrack patronage because of increase in competition (the New York state has better exchange rates) and other issues on the border etc. So it is obvious that a reliable, professional and effectively regulated sportsbooks would help reduce the illegal sports gambling which is occurring on unregulated websites and offshore sites. Sports gambling or betting is a good tourist draw and must be allowed in Canada. This is because it can 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 other countries where sports gambling is legalized.
The Ontario Government that owns the Casino Windsor hopes that the sports gambling in Ontario will increase with the improvements being made in this casino. The new Legends Sports Lounge, 36 video-displays, comfortable leather chairs and excellent food will attract the sports fans from all over. The success of sports gambling in Ontario will also be determined by the way the bettors embrace the games provided by the casinos.