Ontario online sports betting laws

Now that online sports betting has been authorized by Canadian federal authorities, it is inevitable that there will be plenty of Ontario betting sites to choose from.

The steps to follow to sign up for Ontario online betting are:

1. Choose a reputable licensed sportsbook that is offering the markets and bonuses you want to use.

2. Confirm your location within the boundaries of Ontario.

3. Offer proof to verify your identity so that you can place funds into your account.

4. Make the most of a sign-up bonus; virtually all sportsbooks have a special offer for new customers.

5. Start to enjoy Ontario online betting.

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) are legal in Canada. There has never been legislation specifically outlawing the leading operators from offering games in the country and as a result they have done so for several years. Both DraftKings and FanDuel have huge numbers of customers within Ontario, where the appetite for sports, and wagering on them, is high.

One interesting consequence of this is that should the big two DFS firms – who both have an established sportsbook arm that operates in several US states – apply for an Ontario sports betting license, they will do so from a position of strength. Their DFS activity has given them a high profile in the province that will surely help them to win numerous sportsbook customers.

The fact that there has long been a provincial lottery in Ontario, through which people have been able to make parlay bets, means that the importance of responsible gaming is well established here. For the vast majority of bettors, wagering is a pleasurable leisure activity. For a small number, however, it can cause problems that lead to serious financial issues. It is encouraging, therefore, that there are several agencies offering practical assistance, as well as guidance for the operation of responsible gambling.

• iGaming Ontario , for instance, has as one of its aims the need to ensure safe and responsible gambling, insisting that it is embedded in the culture of operators in the province.

• The Responsible Gambling Council , set up several decades ago, is recognized as the principal resource of assistance on the issue in Canada.

• Problem Gambling is an organization with a vast stock of responsible gambling tools to help people who may have a problem.

• The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has detailed guidance to operators and bettors about how betting organizations should operate in the province.

As things stand, there is just one retail sportsbook in the whole of Canada – and it’s located in British Columbia. However, there are 71 licensed land-based casinos in Ontario. It seems certain that many of these will apply for licenses to offer single-game sports wagering facilities, either on the premises or online. The fact that the announcement that the effective date when C-218 would allow single-game wagering in Canada was made at the Fallsview Resort Casino at Niagara Falls suggests that it won’t be long before casino operators become involved in some way in single-game Ontario sports betting.