Dominoes Begin To Fall In Canada As Ontario Mulls Online Gambling
Similar to what is taking place in the US casino industry, Canada provinces are playing follow the leader into the world of Internet gambling. The latest domino to fall came on Tuesday, when Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty suggested a future with legalized online gambling.
"When you see what's going on in British Columbia, Quebec, and the Atlantic provinces...it's something I would explore," said Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation Chairman Paul Godfrey, "Money is going out of this province to other provinces as well as offshore sites."
McGuinty was not as committed to moving in the online gambling direction, but he did make it clear that it was an issue that cannot be ignored. Online poker would be the target market for Ontario if they were to legalize Internet gambling.
"I would want to talk to the minister about that (online gambling)," said McGuinty, to reporters on Tuesday, "I think we've got to make a call on that...It's not something we can avoid."
McGuinty has not always been one to agree with this type of expansion when it comes to ethical issues such as gambling or liquor sales. He believes the gambling issue, however needs some government intervention.
McGuinty pointed to the fact that millions of dollars was already being wagered online by Ontario residents. He feels strongly that unlike other moral issues where the government can control distribution of products such as liquor, gambling is currently taking place with no oversight.
The revenue that could be created is the driving force behind the Internet gambling movement taking place in Canada. It is expected that $50 million in revenue will be generated in Quebec from online gambling by 2012.
February 24, 2010
Posted By Tom Jones
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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