Ontario is getting closer to its iGaming launch date of April 4th, which regulates online gaming and gambling.
With Casinos now back to full capacity, Great Canadian Gaming Corporation has released a statement about its concerns on the impacts iGaming will have to land based facilities.
While Great Canadian supports Ontario’s iGaming, the company maintains its stance that there are serious issues with the current framework that need to be addressed.
Great Canadian’s CEO Tony Rodio states, “We have seen revenue generated by land-based casinos decrease in other jurisdictions where online casinos have been legalized, and this will only be compounded in Ontario when an unlimited number of online casinos are quickly introduced with a tax rate that is almost three times less what land-based casinos currently remit to the province.”
Executive Vice President, Chuck Keeling says iGaming creates a massive competitive disadvantage for land based Casinos.
The company’s independent data projects the current framework will cost Ontario over 2,500 jobs, millions in municipal payments and billions to provincial revenues. In terms of local impact, the report projects it will cost Milton $11.3 million in municipal payments, which would severely detract from community programs and charities, and 147 local jobs.
READ: iGaming Impacts on Milton
Keeling and Great Canadian continue discussions with Chambers of Commerce, First Nations, and the Government of Ontario on how to the current platform will impact communities.
Great Canadian will continue to urge the Ontario provincial government to ensure the launch of iGaming in Ontario does not negatively impact local jobs, investments, and provincial revenue.
