Ontario Government to Regulate Online Gambling

Submitted by Beth on Wed, 2010-08-11 at 14:43

Online Gambling in Ontario Just weeks after British Columbia’s new online gambling website crashed and burned miserably, the Ontario government has announced that it will be taking a shot at launching a state-run online casino.

The announcement was made yesterday as OLG Chair Paul Godfrey stated that the commission would spend the next year and a half preparing for a launch in 2012. Together, Godfrey and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission will consult over the opportunity to determine the best course of action when designing, programming and promoting the new website.

With a $19.7 billion deficit, Ontario is making the right decision by choosing to no longer denounce the usefulness of online gambling. Every year, it is estimated that Ontario residents spend more than $400 million gambling online at offshore websites each year. If the government could cash in at least a small percentage of that, the province could reduce its debt much more quickly.

The OLG has been met with some skepticism, however, as residents and opposing politicians rehash the previous scandals in which the commission has been involved. With two major scandals in two years and going through 5 different CEOs recently, many people believe that the OLG is not in the right position to plan such a large undertaking.

It is hoped that Ontario will not follow in British Columbia’s footsteps, instead opting to ask for help from existing regulatory bodies and online casino operators.