iGaming Ontario (iGO), on-line sports wagering and single-game betting, launched Monday, April 4, with more than a dozen betting sites having been registered with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). Seven sites went live on April 4.
For horse racing in Ontario, however, the launch is of great concern to the industry as currently, horse racing has yet to be integrated as online betting content on these various platforms and Woodbine Entertainment, the largest wagering company in the country, has not been able to set up physical sportsbooks. Woodbine has a vast Champions teletheatre network across Ontario, already set up for wagering. As Jim Lawson, CEO and president of Woodbine said to Dave Briggs at playontario.com. “We’re not looking for exclusivity, we not looking for protection. We just want to be part of it,” Lawson said. “On the integration side, all we’re asking is let (operators) host our product.”
It is no secret that the expanded sports betting market could cannibalize the horse racing wagering market. But it is also well known that many of the platforms that are now live have roots in horse racing wagering and are wanting to include presenting the pari-mutuel betting on tracks on sites.
Lawson said on playontario.com, “We have understood almost from the beginning that [sports betting platforms] were all very interested in horse racing and if they wanted it they would have to buy it from Woodbine. That was the premise, which we’ve been advancing. They were anxious to work with us on an operating agreement and host our content on their platform, which would have been great for racing because it would have been huge exposure for it.
“Of course, I think it hurts us that we’re not out of the starting gate with everyone else. Having to add it, later on, is not ideal for us, but we are where we are.”
Woodbine opens its 2022 Thoroughbred season on April 16 and is one of some 15 tracks operating in the province.
IGaming website and list of platforms here.
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