Here we go in Cananda! Provincial governments to cash in on online gambling
Provincial governments to cash in on online gambling
By GERAD SAMET, QMI Agency
Last Updated: May 18, 2010 10:18pm
MONTREAL - Lottery organizations in Quebec and British Columbia, as well as from the Atlantic provinces, are building an online poker site designed to take on traffic from the 2,000 illegal gambling sites operating in Canada.
Last February, Quebec authorized Loto-Quebec to enter the world of online gambling, a deal that will be finalized in the fall of 2010.
The risk is high for the governments due to an already competitive market with popular sites such as PokerStars, which is the most widely used poker site in the world.
In an effort to get in on the billions of dollars spent each year in Canada on these sites, some provincial governments are uniting to create a unique online gaming platform.
Instead of "policing" international websites in Quebec, which appears technically impossible, Quebec plans instead to promote the legal and safe side of its site.
Catherine Pouline, spokesperson for Quebec Minister of Finance Raymond Bachand, said the government's plan is the safest bet.
"To be able to play, they will have to open an account, and like in a bank your identity will have to be proven," she said. "This will prevent minors from having access to online gambling games."
A security feature will also prevent problem gamblers from playing on the site, she said.
The global online gambling industry is worth an estimated US $35 million and over $1 billion in Canada. In Quebec, online gambling brings in $100 million per year. While the majority of this money comes from games played outside of the province's jurisdiction, the new site should help divide some of that money.
Provincial governments to cash in on online gambling | Canada | News | Toronto Sun
By GERAD SAMET, QMI Agency
Last Updated: May 18, 2010 10:18pm
MONTREAL - Lottery organizations in Quebec and British Columbia, as well as from the Atlantic provinces, are building an online poker site designed to take on traffic from the 2,000 illegal gambling sites operating in Canada.
Last February, Quebec authorized Loto-Quebec to enter the world of online gambling, a deal that will be finalized in the fall of 2010.
The risk is high for the governments due to an already competitive market with popular sites such as PokerStars, which is the most widely used poker site in the world.
In an effort to get in on the billions of dollars spent each year in Canada on these sites, some provincial governments are uniting to create a unique online gaming platform.
Instead of "policing" international websites in Quebec, which appears technically impossible, Quebec plans instead to promote the legal and safe side of its site.
Catherine Pouline, spokesperson for Quebec Minister of Finance Raymond Bachand, said the government's plan is the safest bet.
"To be able to play, they will have to open an account, and like in a bank your identity will have to be proven," she said. "This will prevent minors from having access to online gambling games."
A security feature will also prevent problem gamblers from playing on the site, she said.
The global online gambling industry is worth an estimated US $35 million and over $1 billion in Canada. In Quebec, online gambling brings in $100 million per year. While the majority of this money comes from games played outside of the province's jurisdiction, the new site should help divide some of that money.
Provincial governments to cash in on online gambling | Canada | News | Toronto Sun
