Despite Loud Objections, Sports Gambling Best for Ontario

To embrace gambling would give pro sports even more problems with image, and cause some to question the integrity of games; yet gambling is the unmentioned source that drives the popularity of these leagues.

The Liberal Party in Canada is pushing a plan to bring full-fledged sports gambling to Ontario casinos. The idea is that, by increasing the gambling take, state revenues will also climb.

However, American professional sports leagues take a harsh stance toward any indication of legalized gambling on their activities, and, although no teams play in Niagara or Windsor, those in Montreal and Toronto will certainly use all influence to fight potential bookmaking in cities not far from them.

Further, leaders of the opposition Conservative Party say the idea just demonstrates how much the Liberals have become dependent on gambling sources of income.

Both casino revenues and economic conditions in Ontario have been in a persistent slump over the last year.

Currently, casinos in Ontario take a form of sports wagering called Pro-Line, which involves picking sports winners but only in parlay fashion, with a minimum of three games taken.

As usual, this does not prevent gamblers from gambling; sports players simply use online casinos or illegal bookies to place bets, preventing the country from seeing any tax monies from the transactions.

As for the objections of the sports leagues, they are made clearly for the purpose of public relations. To embrace gambling would give pro sports even more problems with image, and cause some to question the integrity of games; yet gambling is the unmentioned source that drives the popularity of these leagues.

Many protests may come from various sources, but the truth is that Conservatives have no better plan to raise needed revenue, and pro leagues need the interest generated by wagering to continue to feed millionaire players and billionaire owners.