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Canadian Gov't looking at making sports betting legal in Casinos
Casinos eye sports betting
At gambling sites such as Legends Sports Lounge at Casino Windsor, the ability to take bets on single sports games could give casinos a huge advantage over their U.S. rivals. Casinos looking for a new jackpot, expert says
Gambling on sports is a potentially lucrative market that Canadian casinos haven't been allowed to fully cash their chips on – at least not yet.Province asks Ottawa to allow 'sportsbooks' that would lure U.S. gamblers across border
The federal and Ontario governments are moving toward allowing Las Vegas-style sports gambling in provincial casinos, the Toronto Star has learned.
In a plan to help boost sagging casino revenues in Niagara Falls and Windsor, where the high Canadian dollar and increased border security mean fewer American visitors, Queen's Park is urging Ottawa to amend the Criminal Code of Canada and create casino "sportsbooks."
Ontario casinos already have sportsbook infrastructure in place with TV screens, scoreboards and seating, but betting is limited to Pro-Line, in which bettors select the outcomes of three or more sports contests on a "parlay" ticket.
The new proposal would allow gamblers to wager the outcome of individual football, baseball, hockey, basketball, soccer and other games as opposed to the multiple "parlay" betting that exists under Pro-Line, the government-run lottery.
While the province is specifically interested in sportsbooks at the two Niagara Falls casinos, the new Caesars Windsor facility and the existing Casino Rama, any legal change could apply to racetracks, such as Woodbine.
Sources say former provincial infrastructure minister David Caplan, who has since moved to the health ministry and been replaced by George Smitherman, made the request in writing to federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson last year.
Nicholson, who represents Niagara Falls, has been receptive to Caplan's suggestion and insiders say the two levels of government are quietly co-operating. However no timetable is yet set for the sportsbooks.
The new sportsbook would give Ontario casinos a huge advantage over their American competitors. Sportsbook betting is only allowed in Las Vegas in the U.S., largely because professional sports leagues are opposed to them being in cities that have football, baseball, basketball and hockey teams.
One problem in getting approval to change the Criminal Code is that the federal Conservatives, who have a minority government, are worried the federal Liberals or the New Democrats might oppose the change for political purposes.
But NDP MP Joe Comartin (Windsor-Tecumseh) said he has approached Nicholson several times – including as recently as last month – to express his support.
Comartin said sports betting would give the casinos in Windsor and Niagara Falls "a major competitive advantage" since it is not allowed in Michigan or New York and is only available in 150 Nevada gaming houses.
"What it would do is generate traffic into the casino for that particular type of betting and then you also pick up additional business," he said, adding other provinces are also lobbying Ottawa for the change.
With provincial gambling revenues projected to drop to $1.77 billion this year – down from $2.02 billion in 2005-06 – Comartin said casino communities need help.
Progressive Conservative MPP Tim Hudak (Niagara West-Glanbrook) yesterday wrote to both Nicholson and Smitherman, urging them to move quickly.
"Unfortunately, Niagara residents have experienced recent layoffs at Niagara's casinos and a significant decline in patronage at the Fort Erie racetrack due to increased competition in New York state, a less favourable exchange rate and other border issues," Hudak wrote.
"Furthermore, a properly regulated, trusted and professional sportsbook would help reduce the growing illegal sports betting taking place in Ontario and by Ontario residents on offshore and unregulated Internet sites."
Hudak, who was minister responsible for casinos and lotteries under former Tory premier Mike Harris, noted that in 1999 a similar federal amendment permitted casino dice games.
The Harris government made the request to then Liberal prime minister Jean Chrétien's administration, which passed the changes on March 11, 1999 with the first craps tables opening a month later.
Jim Warren, a former senior official at the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission who is currently building a new casino in Moncton, N.B., said sports betting, which is not allowed anywhere in Canada, is a good tourist draw.
"In order to attract Americans to the border casinos in Windsor and Niagara Falls, you have to provide them with exciting entertainment opportunities and no one loves sports more than Americans," said Warren.
"You also want to better compete with the Internet and you would actually give a legal outlet for activities that are happening illegally," he said.
Currently, Canadian gamblers skirt the law by betting with sportsbooks located in the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, and a slew of other countries. As well, underground betting brings in untold millions for illegal operators at home.
North American professional sports leagues have traditionally opposed sportsbooks, which is one reason why Las Vegas is not home to any major league teams.
Because Niagara, Windsor and Rama do not have big-league hockey, football, baseball or soccer teams, sportsbook supporters do not foresee problems with the leagues. "What are the Toronto Maple Leafs going to do – move if there's a sportsbook in Niagara Falls?" said one backer.
At gambling sites such as Legends Sports Lounge at Casino Windsor, the ability to take bets on single sports games could give casinos a huge advantage over their U.S. rivals. Casinos looking for a new jackpot, expert says
Gambling on sports is a potentially lucrative market that Canadian casinos haven't been allowed to fully cash their chips on – at least not yet.Province asks Ottawa to allow 'sportsbooks' that would lure U.S. gamblers across border
The federal and Ontario governments are moving toward allowing Las Vegas-style sports gambling in provincial casinos, the Toronto Star has learned.
In a plan to help boost sagging casino revenues in Niagara Falls and Windsor, where the high Canadian dollar and increased border security mean fewer American visitors, Queen's Park is urging Ottawa to amend the Criminal Code of Canada and create casino "sportsbooks."
Ontario casinos already have sportsbook infrastructure in place with TV screens, scoreboards and seating, but betting is limited to Pro-Line, in which bettors select the outcomes of three or more sports contests on a "parlay" ticket.
The new proposal would allow gamblers to wager the outcome of individual football, baseball, hockey, basketball, soccer and other games as opposed to the multiple "parlay" betting that exists under Pro-Line, the government-run lottery.
While the province is specifically interested in sportsbooks at the two Niagara Falls casinos, the new Caesars Windsor facility and the existing Casino Rama, any legal change could apply to racetracks, such as Woodbine.
Sources say former provincial infrastructure minister David Caplan, who has since moved to the health ministry and been replaced by George Smitherman, made the request in writing to federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson last year.
Nicholson, who represents Niagara Falls, has been receptive to Caplan's suggestion and insiders say the two levels of government are quietly co-operating. However no timetable is yet set for the sportsbooks.
The new sportsbook would give Ontario casinos a huge advantage over their American competitors. Sportsbook betting is only allowed in Las Vegas in the U.S., largely because professional sports leagues are opposed to them being in cities that have football, baseball, basketball and hockey teams.
One problem in getting approval to change the Criminal Code is that the federal Conservatives, who have a minority government, are worried the federal Liberals or the New Democrats might oppose the change for political purposes.
But NDP MP Joe Comartin (Windsor-Tecumseh) said he has approached Nicholson several times – including as recently as last month – to express his support.
Comartin said sports betting would give the casinos in Windsor and Niagara Falls "a major competitive advantage" since it is not allowed in Michigan or New York and is only available in 150 Nevada gaming houses.
"What it would do is generate traffic into the casino for that particular type of betting and then you also pick up additional business," he said, adding other provinces are also lobbying Ottawa for the change.
With provincial gambling revenues projected to drop to $1.77 billion this year – down from $2.02 billion in 2005-06 – Comartin said casino communities need help.
Progressive Conservative MPP Tim Hudak (Niagara West-Glanbrook) yesterday wrote to both Nicholson and Smitherman, urging them to move quickly.
"Unfortunately, Niagara residents have experienced recent layoffs at Niagara's casinos and a significant decline in patronage at the Fort Erie racetrack due to increased competition in New York state, a less favourable exchange rate and other border issues," Hudak wrote.
"Furthermore, a properly regulated, trusted and professional sportsbook would help reduce the growing illegal sports betting taking place in Ontario and by Ontario residents on offshore and unregulated Internet sites."
Hudak, who was minister responsible for casinos and lotteries under former Tory premier Mike Harris, noted that in 1999 a similar federal amendment permitted casino dice games.
The Harris government made the request to then Liberal prime minister Jean Chrétien's administration, which passed the changes on March 11, 1999 with the first craps tables opening a month later.
Jim Warren, a former senior official at the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission who is currently building a new casino in Moncton, N.B., said sports betting, which is not allowed anywhere in Canada, is a good tourist draw.
"In order to attract Americans to the border casinos in Windsor and Niagara Falls, you have to provide them with exciting entertainment opportunities and no one loves sports more than Americans," said Warren.
"You also want to better compete with the Internet and you would actually give a legal outlet for activities that are happening illegally," he said.
Currently, Canadian gamblers skirt the law by betting with sportsbooks located in the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, and a slew of other countries. As well, underground betting brings in untold millions for illegal operators at home.
North American professional sports leagues have traditionally opposed sportsbooks, which is one reason why Las Vegas is not home to any major league teams.
Because Niagara, Windsor and Rama do not have big-league hockey, football, baseball or soccer teams, sportsbook supporters do not foresee problems with the leagues. "What are the Toronto Maple Leafs going to do – move if there's a sportsbook in Niagara Falls?" said one backer.
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