Yesterday, Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation launched a new online gaming site. PlayOLG made its debut after careful consideration of all benefits and setbacks it could potentially lead to.
Mere hours after its launch, the first analysis and predictions were released. Analysts’ standpoints about the success of PlayOLG are too different from each other but yet, the majority of them are concerned about the issues the site could raise.
According to a representative of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the new site will definitely attract players who are willing to participate in gambling activities but they were afraid of placing their bets on the unregulated gambling market.
Robert Murray, a key figure in Ontario Problem Gambling Institute, commented that PlayOLG.ca provides an excellent opportunity for funding province’s coffers.
Needless to say, the factor that the remote gambling is really convenient to players should also be taken into consideration.
After the initial excitement that the gambling sector is diversified, analysts came to an expected conclusion. The more people take part in gambling activities, the more troubles this is going to bring.
According to the initial estimates made before the launch of the site, approximately 500,000 residents of Ontario are keen on taking part in online gambling activities.
Now, they have the chance to enjoy their favorite games without being involved in the so called gray markets. PlayOLG currently offers table games, slots, and lottery tickets sale. Other popular casino games such as poker and bingo are to be launched in the foreseeable future. The site is believed to generate annual revenues that could reach $500 million.
Expectations are additional profits equal to $375 million to be generated within the next five years. The launch of PlayOLG joined the most populous Canadian province to all the other ones that have already allowed their residents to use online gambling options such as roulette, blackjack, baccarat and purchase of lottery tickets.
In order to be eligible for using the services available at PlayOLG, every player has to be 18 years of age or older. In addition, they need to be located in Ontario and last but not least to be a resident of the province.
Everyone is free to set playing limits which are not too different from the ones, allowed in other Canadian gaming sites. Ryan Bissonnette, a representative of OLG, said that the site is believed to become a really popular one as it corresponds to all the factors one should take into account upon entering a gaming website: safety, responsibility of the gaming provider and the regulator. In addition to that, Bissonnette said that responsible gaming features are also available.
Although the site is compatible to all requirements of the authorities, its launch has already attracted opponents who expressed their concerns that it poses a huge risk to the vulnerable part of Ontario residents.
Although Murray defined most of their concerns as unlikely to happen, he did not excluded the probability of having to deal with serious problems believed to affect mainly young people and vulnerable social groups.
