What impact will the impending sports betting in Ontario have on online casinos in Canada?

The province of Ontario has allowed sports betting in some form to take place legally within its borders since August 2021, regulated via the government agency iGaming Ontario that conducts and manages internet gaming in the province when provided through private gaming operators, although currently online sports betting is still unavailable, which may be set to change later this year.

Indeed, there is a lot of movement in regard to making this available at the moment, with it claimed that there is some push by sportsbooks and senior officials looking to make the activity fully legal by April 2022.

In contrast, online gambling via the use of casino platforms is already permitted legally and has already seen a huge amount of success, with one of the very best online casinos in Canada already establishing itself amongst the leaders within the market in the country.

However, what impact will the introduction of fully legalised sports betting within Ontario have on the online casino scene within the province? Let’s explore some of the potential outcomes that could be experienced soon:

Decline in numbers

One possible outcome that could be experienced by online casinos is that operators could start to see visitor numbers go on a decline, as players will be able to have more choices compared to before.

Sports fans who may not have been happy with the current regulations that only allow for single sports bets may have already turned to use virtual casinos as an alternative to satisfy any hunger they may have for gambling, however the introduction of sports betting within Ontario might see those players looking to move to a sportsbook that fully allows them to achieve what they want.

More potential customers

In complete contrast, the legalisation of sports betting within the province could actually have a positive effect on online casinos, as more may actually be inclined to bet on some of the games that are available.

Indeed, many may have decided to wait for sports betting to become legal because that is the type of wagering that they want to participate in. However, those that then enjoy it and wish to explore new opportunities may decide that going to an online casino could be the next move for them.

This would then allow for online casino platforms to be able to increase their customer numbers, which would then help the industry to thrive and grow further, therefore enjoying a positive impact.

Revenue generated could be extremely different

The amount of revenue could potentially increase or decrease with the pending introduction of sports betting within Ontario, Canada, especially if one of the above factors were to come true.

Indeed, if more options become available as likely as it looks at this stage, there could be less money available to online casinos to try and generate from potential customers as players will be able to choose with whom they spend their cash. As mentioned, some may have decided to use an online casino platform to quench their thirst for their hobby as a substitute, however the availability of a sportsbook could make them move.

However, the introduction of sportsbooks could benefit virtual platforms, too, as players who wager on sports may look for several alternatives to further enhance their overall gambling experience.

Conclusion

At the moment, it could be rather hard to try and predict successfully what kind of impact the introduction of sports betting in Ontario will have on online casinos, however it is certainly something that will need to be planned for. It could be good, it could be bad, but it might be something where only time will tell.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes