A bill has been bought to the Canadian parliament by a member that could end up with regional owned online casinos such as PlayNow to be able to offer sport betting on all manner of sports events.

Currently Canada has a strict code on sports betting that does not lets its regions or provinces to allow its citizens to bet on any single sports events, whether these be soccer, fighting or athletics. The new bill however would remove this area of the law so provincially owned online casinos will be able to start allowing sports betting as part of its wagering functionality.

This is a smart and bold move by the Canadian government and will allow for its citizens to enjoy another facet of the online casino world that many in other countries currently enjoy.

Joe Comartin, a member of the New Democratic Party said of the move:

“When it comes to this type of gambling, the Criminal Code is outdated and does not recognise the modern reality of professional sport leagues and sporting events,”

“Sports gambling is a multi-million dollar industry that operates underground and unregulated throughout Canada,” said Comartin.

“This bill will help take a large chunk of revenues out of the hands of organised crime.”

Giving Canadians the ability to make sporting bets at an officially run online casino will not only help boost the revenues of the province concerned but it will also allow for sports betting in a safe environment. The government believe that this move will reduce the amount of illegal sports betting that currently goes on, which will in turn dent the finances of criminal gangs so Canadian citizens, the Canadian provinces and the Canadian government will all get something out of the move.

Currently Canada is really changing as a place for online casinos and sports betting, this makes it a great and interesting place to be for those who enjoy a flutter or game now and again.

Posted by George in Casino News | No Comments » March 2nd, 2011

SportingBet.com launched its new sports betting website, ca.sportingbet.com, which will allow the UK-based company to offer its premium service to the ever-expanding Canadian sports betting market.

The expansion into Canada is just another component of SportingBet’s aggressive expansion plan, which has seen growth into other sports betting hotbeds.

With the development of the new website, the Canadian bettor is provided with a strong, viable wagering option outside of the unregulated offshore industry or having to travel to Las Vegas.

“We are very excited about entering the Canadian sports betting market,” says Gary Lewis, head of Canadian Operations. “We are committed to offering Canadian customers more of what they want to see whether it’s more sports, more odds, more products or more promotions. Our dedicated Canadian team is there to ensure this commitment becomes a reality.”

Lewis says that getting into the burgeoning Canadian sports betting market is a key component to its overall expansion plans, which includes the further development of a product specifically tailored for this group of bettors.

“Canadian people want a safe, secure and trustworthy sports book where they know their money is safe. We have been bringing this to our customers from all over the world since 1998,” says Lewis of SportingBet. “Our customers appreciate the transparency and clarity of our financial dealings. It makes sense to offer this to Canadians too.”

With its extensive bookmaking background, and strong technical and financial platforms, SportingBet should quickly gain recognition from the Canadian sports bettor.

SportingBet currently takes wagers on 22 sports from the top leagues and events from around the globe. But closer to home, SportingBet offers a myriad of wagers, including the In-Play wagering option, which allows Canadian bettors to wager on their favorite NHL and NBA games while the game is in progress. Major League Baseball and the Canadian Football League will be added when both leagues start up at the end of March and June respectively.

SportingBet, with more than four million registered customers, offers a wide range of betting and gaming products from poker and sports betting to casino and games such as backgammon.

Operating out of regulated and licensed markets since 1998, SportingBet has been listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange since 2001. SportingBet is licensed and regulated by the Alderney Gambling Commission in the Channel Islands off the coast of England.

Posted by Diana Sterling in Casino News | No Comments » March 23rd, 2008