Ontario “modernizing” gambling?

GAMBLING in Ontario could soon be on the cards, as members of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. will gather to discuss its future. The hot topic on their lips will be will whether “modernizing lottery and gaming in Ontario” will work within the state.

Ontario has been pondering upon the idea about changing its current gambling law, in a bid to scoop more profit from the multimillion-dollar industry. OLG has said online gambling is worth about $500 million in Ontario, but all that money currently goes to offshore betting sites. If legislation is on the cards, then this profit could benefit their very own doorstep.

The Crown Corporation is also expected to let gamblers place bets from iPhone, BlackBerrys and computers by this time next year.

The agency has recently sent out proposal requests for help setting up and running online games such as video poker and video slots, as well as lottery ticket sales.

Other regions, including British Columbia, have encountered problems when they introduced online gaming. B.C. launched is online casino PlayNow.com in mid-2010 but was forced to re-work it after it was compromised.

Ontario’s casinos take in about $3.3 billion every year, while lotteries and bingos net another $3.3 billion. Some $2 billion of that total goes into the province’s coffers.