Ontario's State-Run Online Casino Goes Live

Following four years of plans and many delays, last Thursday has finally seen the launch of Ontario's new state-run online casino. Run by Ontario's Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), the new casino is named PlayOLG.

Casino Games and Lottery

The new GTECH powered site offers Ontarians of gambling age a wide range of online casino games with slots, poker, blackjack, baccarat and roulette. Players can also buy online tickets to Canada's LOTTO MAX, LOTTO 6/49 and ENCORE. OLG is planning to expand the gambling offerings in the future with plans to add sports betting, bingo and online poker.

Estimated Revenues

The Ontarian government has high hopes for the newly launched casino, estimating that it will generate $475 million in the next six years. According to PlayOLG, money from its revenues will be provided for Ontario's community infrastructures, hospitals and other important government projects.

Safety Measures for Responsible Gaming

In setting up the new casino, OLG has consulted with responsible gaming organizations in order to provide players with a safe and nonhazardous playing environment. Apart from a strict age verification process, the casino demands of players to set weekly money limits; players can decrease their limit at any time but to increase it they need a week-long cooling down period.

The casino filters the material it sends registered players according to their stats: Those with higher risk behavior are sent responsible gambling material instead of marketing material. OLG has also included a break button which players can press at any time should they feel out of control; the casino will also contact players that are displaying troublesome behavior and resort them to Ontario's Problem Gambling hotline.

Hopes for the Future

With the rigorous safety measures in effect and the projected revenues, it will be interesting to see how Ontario's new casino fares. Ontario is Canada's seventh province which has regulated online gambling. Perhaps even more interesting is whether Canada's southern neighbor will be influenced by the launch of state-run online casinos.