Play Canada

Covering online casinos, sports betting and everything Canadian gaming. Please gamble responsibly. 18/19+

[Play Canada @PlayCanada_]

The coalition estimates grey market sites divert nearly $1.8 billion away from legal operators across Canada annually. The simple and logical solution is to: legalize, regulate, control and tax online gambling and better protect consumers and fund problem gambling resources.

[Dave Briggs @dbriggs1969]

The Canadian Lottery Coalition is decrying nationwide ads for ON sportsbooks not legal in the rest of Canada. The concern is consumers in other provinces are gambling en masse with grey market operators. Yet, as @matthewlomon writes, the solution is easy.
https://t.co/GlSnVeDgqT

[Play Canada @PlayCanada_]

And @iGamingOntario numbers that show Ontario online gambling revenue of $2.4 billion (Cdn) (about $1.78 billion US) for year two don't even include @OLG_CA figures. Last year, OLG made up about 24% of the market.

[Dave Briggs @dbriggs1969]

Is Ontario the top online gambling sector in North America? Maybe. An analysis by @PlayCanada_ shows Ontario gambling revenue for the second full year exceeded year-two revenue in Pennsylvania, Michigan and New Jersey - even in US dollars.
https://t.co/BqEaTKcmEO

[Play Canada @PlayCanada_]

A special thank you to @StevieMacSports and everyone @GamingNewsCA for the tremendous newsletter and for throwing the spotlight on the work of the Canadian gambling media. The newsletter will be missed, but we're looking forward to McAllister's continued great work on the podcast

[Dave Briggs @dbriggs1969]

The @GamingNewsCA newsletter has ceased publication, but editor @StevieMacSports told @PlayCanada_ it is far from the end of GNC. He will now devote his energy to producing one-to-two podcasts a week. Why did the newsletter end? Details here:
https://t.co/3e2GInaK3m

[Play Canada @PlayCanada_]

“If you look at the statement, it’s so out of date,” said Nathalie Bergeron. “It’s completely disconnected from the current reality."

[Dave Briggs @dbriggs1969]

The Québec Online Gaming Coalition tells @PlayCanada_'s @matthewlomon that the province's decision not to allow third-party online operators to compete with crown-run Loto-Québec makes no sense.
https://t.co/088cY1fGgv

[Play Canada @PlayCanada_]

Only 2.9% of the 175 ads shown during the Super Bowl were gambling ads. Nine other categories - from financial services to restaurants and, especially Bell companies (42 ads!) - were much more prevalent than gambling ads.

[Dave Briggs @dbriggs1969]

Complaining about gambling ads in Canada has become as ubiquitous as talking about the weather. But a @PlayCanada_ found gambling ads virtually non-existent during @CTV's broadcast of the Super Bowl - gambling's biggest day.
https://t.co/JIrNy0HHfQ

[Play Canada @PlayCanada_]

Important consumer safety tips for spotting a fake Ontario online casino.

[Dave Briggs @dbriggs1969]

Kudos to @matthewlomon for noticing this scam ad on Instagram for a fictitious @WoodbineComms online casino. Matthew describes how you can tell the ad is a fake and stay safe in this story for @PlayCanada_
https://t.co/ifAIxKN7nd

[Play Canada @PlayCanada_]

With 68 million Americans predicted to legally bet just under $1.3 billion on this year's Super Bowl we believe there is every reason to expect record Super Bowl betting in Ontario’s legal market, as well.

[Dave Briggs @dbriggs1969]

An analysis by @PlayCanada_ found that Ontario ranked fifth in North America in online sports betting handle in 2023. That's huge news heading into the Super Bowl.

https://t.co/1FL2gH41bT

[Play Canada @PlayCanada_]

Go #Bills! Go #Lions!

[Dave Briggs @dbriggs1969]

Deep playoff runs by Ontario's two "home" NFL teams - the @Lions and @BuffaloBills - has been good for Ontario's online sports betting business, say operators. @matthewlomon with the story for @PlayCanada_ :

https://t.co/dRjslajHNF

[Play Canada @PlayCanada_]

And, online casinos dominated Q3 as expected.

[Dave Briggs @dbriggs1969]

The growth of the Ontario online gambling sector in pictures.
https://t.co/X8yzYElUCC

[Play Canada @PlayCanada_]

And... in terms of tax revenue, that amounts to: $131.6 million for Q3, $348.6 million for the first three quarters of FY 2023-24 and $628.6 million since the market opened in April of 2022.

[Dave Briggs @dbriggs1969]

Ontario online gambling revenue of $658 million and handle of $17.2 billion in Q3 were both records. Through three quarters, the sector has already surpassed the entire first-year numbers. More analysis here @PlayCanada_:
https://t.co/X8yzYElUCC

[Play Canada @PlayCanada_]

@PointsBetCanada CEO Scott Vanderwel told PlayCanada that Sulsky is a “force of nature... There is so much that I admire and respect about Nic — the leader he is, the journey he has been on, and the excitement and energy that he brings to every endeavour."

[Dave Briggs @dbriggs1969]

Just how did @PointsBetCanada's COO @nicsulsky raise $69,000 for cancer research - and why is that number important? His story for @PlayCanada_ :
https://t.co/ZjAKv6sU46

[Play Canada @PlayCanada_]

Here's a breakdown of the ad content during the 6 NFL games @matthewlomon analyzed:

[Dave Briggs @dbriggs1969]

For all the upset over gambling ads, they are not as prevalent (now) as some might think. @PlayCanada_ 's @matthewlomon watched 6 NFL games on the weekend and counted the ads. More good news, the number of responsible gambling messages was reasonably high.
https://t.co/xFi7bZibHW

[Play Canada @PlayCanada_]

We're guessing the @Ont_AGCO and @iGamingOntario are applauding @Betano_Canada's move to leave the grey market in the rest of Canada. Score one for operating legally.

[Dave Briggs @dbriggs1969]

Kudos to @Betano_Canada for the decision to exit the grey market in the rest of Canada and focus on its (only) legal Canadian market in Ontario. @matthewlomon with the story for @PlayCanada_
https://t.co/vzkUv0KkCF

[Play Canada @PlayCanada_]

The Québec coalition's survey is causing quite a stir.

[Dave Briggs @dbriggs1969]

In a wide-ranging interview with @PlayCanada_'s @matthewlomon, Québec Online Gaming Coalition spokesperson Nathalie Bergeron says the QOGC's survey proves Quebecers want a legal, regulated online gambling industry
https://t.co/NgWNxXvyIe

[Play Canada @PlayCanada_]

"Our US-only share (17%) is more than double that of the fourth-ranked operator," @BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt said during the presentation. "This is likely to be even more pronounced if we take Ontario into account, where we command 22% share across OSB and iGaming.”

[Dave Briggs @dbriggs1969]

Given that Ontario has 52 online gambling operators, BetMGM saying it has 22% of the online gambling market share in the province is pretty impressive. @ellisdrew with the story for @PlayCanada_
https://t.co/JwHIaeGjVO

[Play Canada @PlayCanada_]

Bottom line: it is a huge lost opportunity to drive much-needed tax revenue in other provinces. It's simply money being lost that could be used to tackle the high cost of living and other social initiatives in need of funding

[Dave Briggs @dbriggs1969]

The lottery corporations in BC, Québec and Atlantic Canada had record online gambling revenues in the most recent fiscal years, but, per capita, it is still only one-third of what Ontario's open market delivered. @matthewlomon with the story:
https://t.co/JatwqylAI5

[Play Canada @PlayCanada_]

Is Canada's notorious grey market now tainting one of the bastions of journalism in this country?

[Dave Briggs @dbriggs1969]

Is The Toronto Star tainted by its deal with NorthStar Bets now that the latter has begun taking bets nationwide despite only being legal (by provincial law) in Ontario? Some thoughts:
https://t.co/e3DFGkCm7d

[Dave Briggs @dbriggs1969]

Nathalie Bergeron, spokesperson for the Québec Online Gaming Coalition, tells @PlayCanada_ that the group is making progress in the bid to legalize online gambling in the province.
@matthewlomon with the story:
https://t.co/EeAlOQ5lWk

[Play Canada @PlayCanada_]

Fault for the volume of ads should be directed to the operators and broadcasters.
"It galls me that the same big media companies have taken in this new revenue from gambling operators while routinely disposing of employees en masse."

[Dave Briggs @dbriggs1969]

Does the new @Ont_AGCO rule banning athletes and other celebrities from appearing in gambling ads (responsible gambling ads excluded) do anything to restrict the volume of ads? No.
Should the AGCO be restricting ad volume? Also no.

https://t.co/8LrmbNUcxv

[Play Canada @PlayCanada_]

Dr. Derevensky: “We know adolescents have a much higher prevalence rates of gambling problems than adults do.
"And young people… think they’re smarter than adults, and they think they can predict the outcome of random events or even non-random events much better than adults.”

[Dave Briggs @dbriggs1969]

As classes resume, it's important not to forget about responsible gambling education for young people.
@mcgillu expert Dr. Jeff Derevensky from the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviours shares his tips:

https://t.co/OB3oEEogRH