In recent weeks, Canada has been overly saturated with discussions about the potential return of single-sport betting. With multiple opinions for and against the single-event wagering uplift. The gambling industry believes that huge revenue is missing from the country, with players having to turn to illegal online platforms that allow for such betting options.
With every day, the reintroduction of single-event betting seems more likely. That is why the task of creating a responsible and safe strategy for online sports wagering has been taken on by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation.The matter was raised during last month’s New Horizons in Responsible Gambling online pre-conference that the Crown agency was pleased to host.
The lottery corporation’s eGaming Director of Operations Stewart Groumoutis, was the first to speak, as he pointed out that he believes that the gaming industry is heading towards a cultural change. He added that casual wagering improvements are more likely to be miss because they need to place multiple bets instead of just one.
He believes that the legalization of single sports betting will allow to further improve the industry in its both land-based and digital variants.
Christine Thurmond, who is the DraftKings Director of Responsible Gaming, insists that educating players about possible risks is the best way for Canada to prepare for such a massive step. The corporation should also ensure that the best possible tools are used to advocate safer gambling, and players must also be aware of possible tools to help while finding themselves in difficult periods. Chris Grove, Gambling Industry Strategist and Partner at Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, advised the use of American neighbors as an example of what might lead to potential expansion.
Since the ban on sports betting was lifted by the Supreme Court and, according to Mr. Grove, such legalization must be carried out in the proper way by casino operators reports on marketing channels and the acquisition of players in order to establish the best possible safety measures.
The Crown agency supports the proposed lifting of wagering for a single event and hopes that the bill will be passed so that Canadians can place their desired bets on a single sporting event such as the Super Bowl.
The actual New Horizons in Responsible Gambling Conference will take place next March, where the topic will be discussed even more intensively since the health of players is of utmost importance to the corporation.
In order to keep gambling enthusiasts entertained, the Crown corporation is always working on creating new gaming offerings. This, however, poses a number of risks because some players may have compulsive gambling disorders because of the many gaming opportunities.
The company realizes the impact this could have on many households, which is why the lottery company is always looking for safer ways to promote safer gambling, one of the cases being working with Monzo Bank Ltd to discuss the issue.
The Crown Agency believes that its responsibility is not only to raise awareness, but also to help the local economy in any way they can. This was seen in January with the charitable campaign “Spread the Local Love” by the corporation. The regulator’s PlayNow.com gaming platform, where players who purchased a ticket contributed to the campaign, achieved this.
The money raised will be used for funding local communities and groups in difficult situations.
