Ontario’s fledgling internet gambling scene is beginning to see some new arrivals.
Entain PLC’s bwin and “party” brands are now live in the province's iGaming market, which launched last week. There were already more than a dozen online sportsbooks available within that regulatory framework.
“I am truly excited that all three of our Party brands are entering the Ontario market,” said Vic Walia, managing director of the “party” brands at Entain, in a press release on Tuesday. “Both recreational and professional players living in Ontario will be able to experience a world class gaming product across poker, casino and sports.”
Joining Ontario's iGaming market requires operators to register with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and to sign a commercial contract with iGaming Ontario, a government agency and AGCO subsidiary.
However, the addition of bwin and the "party"-related sites to the list of entities legally offering sports betting in Ontario is further proof of the competitive nature of the province’s new iGaming market.
Instead of the government-owned Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. being the sole legal provider of online gambling in the province, there is now a wider selection of authorized options for bettors following the April 4 launch of the regulatory framework. More operators are expected to join the mix as well, such as DraftKings, which has yet to debut.
Entain already had a presence in the Ontario iGaming market before bwin’s entry. The U.K.-based sports betting and gambling company is a part-owner of BetMGM, which legally went live in the province last week.
“We are only four days in, but for sure that will be a very competitive environment we'll see in Ontario,” Entain CEO Jette Nygaard-Andersen said during a conference call on April 7. “But the good thing from our side is that we're also seeing that we are ramping up faster.”
Making it work
Interestingly, Entain's partypoker is entering a regulatory environment that has proven hostile to other games that rely on pools of players. The Ontario iGaming market requires players of its games to be located within Ontario unless the games are also being conducted with another provincial government.
The regulations have hit the daily fantasy sports industry especially hard. Two major DFS operators, DraftKings and FanDuel, have either shut down their contests or intend to stop offering them in Ontario.
But partypoker will try to make a go of it in the province.
“Due to the new regulations in Ontario, players based in the province will be moved to the new on.partypoker.ca platform,” Tuesday’s press release said. “Poker tables at on.partypoker.ca will be ringfenced to players located in Ontario. The regulation from AGCO will ensure players are given the same level of service and consumer protection they are used to with Party Brands.”
