Online Gambling Fever Sweeping Across Canada; Alberta Next?

British Columbia may have done for online gambling in Canada what Michael Jordan did for basketball, put it on the map. B.C. launched an online casino last month, and Ontario will soon do the same. Now Alberta says they will be next into the market.

The online gambling craze began in Canada for a few brief hours when the B.C. Lottery Corp. launched PlayNow.com. The websites was shut down just hours after launching dues to security issues. That gaffe, however, has not tempered expectations of other provinces.

Alberta appears to be the latest province looking into online gambling as a source to cure some of the financial problems that have occurred since the global economic recession. Officials are interested in the millions of dollars that could come with online gambling regulations.

"We've definitely been researching and monitoring online gambling for a number of years," said Lynn Hutchings-Mah, Spokeswoman for the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission. "Gaming does generate revenue."

With Canadians spending over $1 billion at sites based outside of Canada, provinces have started formulating plans to keep that revenue in the country. When B.C. moved into the online gambling industry, other provinces took note and they understand they must move fast to beat the competition.

"The ability to generate millions of dollars will be an overwhelming force as these provinces such as Ontario and Alberta move forward with their plans," said Gaming Analyst Steve Schwartz. "It is just too much money for governments to overlook."

Strong opposition is expected in both Alberta and Ontario. Union officials have already came out against online gambling in Ontario, fearing that revenue that would normally go to land-based casinos, will now shift to the Internet. The unions fear that would cost Canadians their jobs at the land-based casinos.

August 12, 2010
Posted By Tom Jones
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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