Online Gambling Firms Urge British Columbia to Rethink Monopoly

Online gambling businesses have started conversations with British Columbia’s government. They want to explore the option of a regulated iGaming market that would open up competition beyond the current provincial monopoly. Records of lobbying from earlier this year show that the industry is working together to push British Columbia to follow provinces like Ontario and Alberta.

COGA Pushes for Regulated Online Gambling Market in British Columbia

The Canadian Online Gaming Alliance (COGA), a group that speaks for several big-name gambling brands, has taken the lead in reaching out. They have been talking to provincial lawmakers and officials to educate them about the good things that could come from having rules for an open online gaming market. COGA representatives say they want to move most of online gambling from platforms without rules to a safer setup that the government regulates.

Right now, PlayNow, a platform the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) operates, is the only option in the British Columbia market. Yet, industry data hints that this monopoly might be tapping into a small part of the real online gambling activity in the province. Lobby papers show COGA thinks an open system, like Ontario’s, could boost transparency, protect consumers better, and increase money for the government.

Troy Ross, who heads TRM Public Affairs and speaks for COGA, used examples from other countries and Canada to claim that adding competition could improve player safety and bring almost all gambling under regulation, reported Covers. COGA’s members include big names in the industry like bet365 and companies tied to Betway and BetMGM.

British Columbia Hesitates on iGaming Reform as Industry Waits for Clear Signals

Despite efforts to reach out, there is no clear sign that the British Columbia government is working on reforms. The New Democratic Party, which has a thin majority in the provincial legislature, has not shown it is ready to make changes, though some in the industry say the government is at least willing to talk. At a recent conference, Paul Burns from the Canadian Gaming Association hinted that British Columbia officials might look into the issue, but they have not taken any real steps yet.

British Columbia Lottery Corporation’s opposition could be a roadblock. The corporation is worried about the growth of “grey market” operators — companies with licenses in Ontario or other countries that British Columbia residents can access. BCLC claims these operators are taking away potential income and driving up the cost of advertising.

As Alberta gets ready to roll out its own competitive iGaming model, people in the industry think this might push British Columbia to make similar changes. Yet, without a clear promise from provincial leaders, what is next for online gambling in the province is still up in the air.