With the BC government's Playnow.com launched (kind of) it seems other Canadian Provinces may soon to follow suit with net casinos of their own.
The government of Ontario, like many around the world is desperately looking for way to plug holes in a growing deficit - currently $20 billion. With British Columbia breaking the ice as it were with their foray into net gambling, many industry commentators believe it's a question of when rather than if Ontario will do something similar.
Online casinos offer a means of raising revenue without the need for enormous capital outlay or ongoing running costs, and therefore represent an attractive fiscal solution for governments.
Official confirmations are as yet not forthcoming, but the door is certainly well and truly open, as indicated by the below written statement from Darcy McNeill, spokesman for Finance Minister Dwight Duncan.
"I think what the premier said is that Internet gaming is a reality that the Ontario government can't ignore for long, but the issue is whether or not we should be involved in it, and that's something the government is exploring."
Meanwhile Quebec's cards are already on the table with Loto-Quebec's online poker site due for launch well before the end of the year.
Subscribe to feed