What has Changed with Sports Gambling Legalization in Ontario?

The province of Ontario is now making online sports betting legal. Sports betting lovers may now have many options to enjoy betting on different sports events.

Ontario Sports Betting Legal Status

Ontario is launching a new segment of gambling, as the province has recently legalized the internet gambling market, known as iGaming.  According to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), the gambling regulatory agency for Ontario, private sports betting operators can now offer sports bets to bettors from April 2022. This important movement may look small but has huge impacts.

Lots of grey areas about the legality of sports betting operations in Ontario are now cleared. Now, top-rated sportsbooks and their operators have a legal license in Ontario. They, however, must have registered first with the AGCO, and get an operational license from iGaming Ontario (IGO), a division of the AGCO. Part of the agreement also centres on the revenue-sharing formula.

Other rules which are enforced before the issuance of a license include:

  • All sportsbooks operators will undergo rigorous tests for fairness, integrity, social responsibility, and player protection.
  • Each operator must instill measures for age restriction controls on their website. This rule will deny underage residents’ access to gambling sites.
  • All operators which have accepted bets before the launch date must settle them before going live.
  • Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) will be affected. All operators may stop offering contests to DFS lovers as a result of regulations from the provincial regulatory body.

Here’s a statement from the official AGCO website:
“The AGCO continues to work with and help prepare operators and gaming-related suppliers for the launch of Ontario’s new iGaming market on April 4, 2022.”

“Not every operator will be ready to launch their services on day one. Some are readier than others. This means Ontario’s new iGaming market will steadily expand in the weeks and months following the market’s launch.”

Can I bet on Sports Legally in Ontario?

To answer this quickly, yes. Anyone can bet on sports events in Ontario without risking a visit from law enforcement. After an amendment of Bill C-218, August 27, 2021, was the day single-game sports betting became legal in Ontario. Prior to that, only Horse racing was allowed. The betting activities are also regulated by the government.

Ontario sports betting regulations have been covered in detail by Canada Legal Betting experts. When you read their article, you will get all the latest information on the legality of online sports betting in the province.

As it stands, here are some of the private operators who already have an agreement with IGO:

  • PointsBet
  • BetMGM Ontario
  • Unibet
  • FanDuel Ontario
  • Rush Street Interactive’s BetRivers brand
  • Coolbet
  • Bet365
  • LeoVegas
  • Party Poker
  • Rivalry
  • Royal Panda
  • theScore
  • 888

According to Amy Howe, CEO of FanDuel Group, this is a huge opportunity for sports fans to enjoy FanDuel’s features.

“We’re so thrilled to open our Canadian office and bring FanDuel’s world-class Sportsbook and Casino to Canada’s passionate sports fans.” “This is a huge moment for the industry and we look forward to providing Canadians with entertaining and responsible sports experiences.”

How Will Legalization of Online Sports Gambling Affect the Ontario?

With this new milestone of legalization reached in Ontario, a lot of changes may be seen in Ontario. For one, bettors can now use the different iGaming websites and apps from approved operators to place bets.

The location is no longer limited to just Ontario, although players must physically be within provincial lines to place wagers. This doesn’t limit you to registration. You can create an account and manage it from anywhere.

Financially, Ontario should be able to see a facelift. Many analysts are predicting that online sports betting in Ontario could generate revenues up to $570 million, with the projections even higher.

Players can also wager with peace of mind. The risks associated with wagering on offshore iGaming sites will no longer be there. This assures the protection of personal information and funds as well.

Gambling Tax on Sports Betting Online

As expected, there is an agreement with the government of Ontario and the operators on taxes. It may not seem like taxes, as there is a different name- revenue-sharing agreement. This is due to the structure of Ontario’s betting market, which doesn’t require the operators to pay a tax. Yet, all the operators must remit a certain amount to the government’s coffers.

The agreement seems to stand within the 80/20 rule, where the government will receive nearly 20%. The entire 20% will be pushed into the public sector.

There are certain benefits, as well as implications with the development.

  • Ontario will benefit hugely from the 20% since projections show online sports betting could gather more than $500 million in gross revenue.
  • More social responsibility will be seen from the operators.

Limitations:

  • Ontario may lose revenue since the agreement only sees 20% as compared to the 55% land-based casinos return to the government.

Legal Gambling Age in Canada

In Canada, the legal age for gambling is 19. However, this rule differs from one province to another. In provinces like Ontario, Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton, and London, the legal age is tagged at 19. Other provinces like Montreal, Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec allow persons 18 and above to enjoy betting.

These rules also apply to online gambling, where you must confirm your age before being allowed access to the site. The regulations around the legal age are mostly implemented at the time of withdrawal of winnings, where you must show proof of age before the request is approved.

Some documents which may be required include a government-issued ID, also a recent bill will be okay.

Summary

Online betting is now coming to Ontario residents. As with other important rules, players can now enjoy wagering on their favourite sports events without any fear of compromising important information. All operators are required to obtain a license.

If you’re still unsure of the legal situation of gambling in Ontario, the experts at Canada Legal Betting have made detailed articles to give you an in-depth understanding of the situation.

 

 

About Joel Levy 2542 Articles
Editor-In-Chief at Toronto Guardian. Photographer and Writer for Toronto Guardian and Joel Levy Photography