BC Drops Out of Ontario Online Gambling Lawsuit

The province of Ontario is seeking to strengthen its online gambling market by allowing local players to access international poker and daily fantasy sports. To make that plan a reality, the Ontario government has turned to the Court of Appeal to decide whether the province can allow international players to participate in these gaming formats.

In previous stages of the case, the British Columbia government expressed reservations about including foreign players in the Ontario market. The authorities were concerned that this could negatively affect their own market by increasing the activity of illegal operators.

Ontario’s interest in expanding the DFS and poker segment is not accidental. After the launch of the iGaming market in 2022, major operators such as FanDuel and DraftKings began offering fantasy sports and poker services. However, the limited player pool forced the companies to gradually reduce their offerings in this area.

Now, if the Court of Appeal upholds Ontario, the province will be able to reintroduce DFS contests and poker games with foreign players. However, the court’s decision will be a deciding factor in this strategy. If the court gives the green light, players from Ontario will be able to participate in games with foreign users. It is important to note that this only applies to players from outside Canada, and not from other Canadian provinces.

Ontario launched its online gambling market in April 2022, making it one of the largest in North America. The province offers a wide range of online casinos and sports betting, cementing its position in the gambling industry.