Not every sports betting operator in Ontario will commence operations on April 4.

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April 4 marks the official kick-off of regulated sports betting and iGaming in Ontario.Ontario sports betting While two months may not seem like a long period, it reflects the extensive preparations leading up to last Friday's announcement.

Paul Burns, President and CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association, stated that 'iGaming Ontario has been collaborating with operators for several months now.' He continued, 'Operators have been submitting their registration applications to the AGCO (Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario) and have been engaging in the onboarding process with IGO (iGaming Ontario). It was never anticipated that every operator would be ready from day one. Those who started early with their applications and onboarding will likely be prepared.'

'I foresee operators entering the Ontario market over the coming months as they complete their preparations. iGaming Ontario might provide further insights regarding the specifics of the market launch.'

With close to 15 million residents in the province,Ontario online casinos the sports betting market is projected to achieve impressive figures comparable to the leading legal sports betting states in the U.S.

More Reaction to Friday’s News

Aly Lalani, the marketing director at BetRegal Ontario Casino, expressed, 'We've been anticipating this moment for quite some time.' He reminisced, 'Our discussions about returning home began four to five years ago. We’re eager to finally take off.' Lalani added, 'Canadian sports fans stand to gain tremendously. They'll now have a trustworthy and vetted platform for betting, allowing the government to curb the outflow of money into unregulated markets.'

'There's a profound sense of relief and excitement in the air.'

In a statement about the announcement, Rivalry Corp.'s co-Founder and CEO Steven Salz shared, 'We are thrilled to announce that residents of Ontario will gain access to secure and regulated online gaming starting April 4 of this year. We support this initiative, believing it is a significant step forward for the province. Rivalry has been part of the Ontario licensing discussions since the beginning, and we can’t wait to introduce our offerings in our home market.'

Another statement confirmed, 'we are set to launch theScore Bet in Ontario on April 4.'

John Levy, CEO oftheScore Ontario Sportsbook 'We applaud the Ontario government for their relentless efforts throughout this initiative and are ecstatic to have a definitive launch date,' Levy remarked. He noted, 'The AGCO and iGaming Ontario have demonstrated thoughtful leadership and a collaborative spirit in crafting and overseeing this new sector, culminating in a framework that will deliver broad benefits to Ontarians and position Ontario as one of the foremost regulated gaming markets across North America.'

Canada is poised to secure a spot in the 2022 World Cup, following a significant 2-0 victory over Honduras on Thursday night. The national team returns home to face the United States in a showdown for first place in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying rankings, with the match scheduled for 2:30 p.m. this Sunday in snowy Hamilton.

Canada-Honduras Soccer Strong

A source indicated that from a betting standpoint, the match between Canada and Honduras was the most sought-after soccer game of the week, ranking sixth for the month on PROLINE+, which is currently the only platform in the province for legal sports betting.

'While it may not match the betting volume of an NFL playoff game, it was nonetheless a strong turnout for Canadian soccer,' the source commented.

A significant majority of the wagers (86%) were placed on Canada to win. Canadian bettors have clearly shown their support.

In contrast, the match between the USA and El Salvador ranked as the 44th most popular soccer game of the week, attracting less than 20% of the betting volume seen in the Canada match. However, despite being solid favorites, 92% of bets were still on the U.S. for a win.taken notice of the national team .

Initially, the U.S. was favored for this weekend's match, but those odds have quickly narrowed, leading to nearly equivalent betting lines for Home, Tie, and Visitor outcomes.

Ontario's online casino gaming scene includes exciting titles and various offerings.

Fromdeereplanet.com

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Mark Keast
Mark Keast
iGaming Reporter

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Casinos in Ontario with instant withdrawal options.