Will online casinos launch with sports betting in Ontario?

Online single-game sports betting is live in Ontario, as August 2021 saw the launch of Proline+ - the sportsbook site operated by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG). However, even bigger changes are coming this spring!

In April 2022, we will see the launch of the first three online sportsbooks, from recognized and established operators, in Ontario. iGaming Ontario is working in partnership with the government to regulate a new igaming landscape that will be similar to the online sports betting industry we’ve now come to know in many US states.

So what’s the deal with online casinos in ON?

Many people have been wondering if online casinos have been included in the legislation that has led to the approval of non-government-operated sportsbooks being given the green light to launch in April 2022. The short answer is that it hasn’t, and that separate legislation will be needed; however, it’s not all bad news - far from it in fact.

There is actually already a legal online casino available in Ontario right now. Proline+, the aforementioned sports betting site, operated by the OLG, also includes an online casino.

About the Prolline+ online casino from OLG

The Proline+ casino isn’t the lottery side-product that many might have expected it to be. In actual fact, it’s strikingly similar to most big-name online casinos across the world and offers you the same sort of experience. You can enjoy the use of a video slot and casino games as well as a live casino.

Are we likely to see other online casinos in Ontario?

As previously mentioned, the online sports betting legislation hasn’t included anything about online casinos. We therefore can’t say anything for certain at this stage, but can quite likely assume that online casinos won’t be launched at the same time as the new Ontario sportsbooks in April 2022.

However, what we can say for sure is that the launch of multiple online sportsbooks for single-game sports wagering can only be a step in the right direction when it comes to the prospect of provincially licensed external online casinos going live in Ontario sometime in the near future.

What’s required for Ontario to launch online casinos? 

In order for online casinos to be launched in Ontario in the same vein as online sportsbooks are set to be, quite a lot of work will need to be done. For starters, there will need to be either a new set of regulatory requirements drawn up for online casinos, or a complete rewrite of the current regulations for online sportsbooks in ON. On top of that, there’s the question of how the land-based casino resorts would react to the changing landscape of online casinos in the province.

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What can be learned from the US

If we look at the US, we have seen something of a negative reaction here. While the casinos have largely been supportive of legalized online sports betting in US states - because the licenses are run through them in most cases - they have been less receptive towards online casinos.

Many land-based casino operators hold the view that the launch of a large-scale online casino industry could negatively impact the footfall at their land-based venues, and as such result in a loss of revenue. However, New Jersey, the home of Atlantic City, has managed to operate a successful online casino industry without negatively impacting its well-established and thriving land-based casino sector.

Will online casinos launch with sports betting in Ontario? FAQ