BC internet gambling breakthrough

[jetset]

BRITISH COLUMBIA EXPANDS ONLINE GAMBLING OFFERING

Minister to announce 75 new online casino games Thursday

The Canadian provincial government for British Columbia will announce a significant expansion of its online offering this week, regulating and legalising online casino games in a first for North America, the Vancouver Sun reports.

The newspaper says that Minister of Housing and Social Development Rich Coleman, who oversees the B.C. Lottery Corp., is expected this morning to announce 75 new online games for the corporation’s website, Playnow.com.

The games will be broken into separate categories, including bingo, lottery, sports betting and casino games. The casino-style games are expected to include blackjack, roulette and poker, among others.

The B.C. Lottery Corp.’s website was taken down Wednesday, and a message on the site said both BCLC.com and PlayNow.com would relaunch as of noon North West Canadian time Thursday.

The online expansion follows a move by the B.C. Lottery Corp. last August to dramatically increase the weekly limit for players on Playnow.com, bringing the cap to $9,999 a week, up from the previous limit of $120 a week.

At the time of that increase, the corporation raised the possibility of casino-style games going online, adding they may be designed so players could access them not only from computers, but also from portable devices, such as an iPhone, BlackBerry or iPad.

The corporation has previously said only registered members whose ages and addresses have been verified will be able to open an online account.

One of the benefits of expanding online gambling cited by government is to provide a provincially regulated alternative to private websites.

The new PlayNow.com website is expected to include visible links to support programs for people who may be seeking help with a gambling addiction or related problem. There will also be safeguards in place to ensure proper online security and reminders about responsible gambling.

According to the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch, gambling in B.C. generated revenues of about Cdn$2.52 billion dollars in 2009-10. After expenses, including prize payouts and other costs, government revenues from gambling for that year were about Cdn$1.07 billion.

The announcement also comes on the heels of news that the B.C. Lottery Corp. is working with other Canadian provinces to create what could become a nationwide online gambling network (see previous InfoPowa reports).

In May this year, a gambling consultant working with Atlantic Lottery said that organisation and Loto-Quebec would be launching a common online platform this fall, and that he expected other provinces to follow suit within about 18 months.

Loto Québec has since confirmed it is partnering with GTechG2 and Openbet in opening up online gambling operations later this year.

[darkpixie]

Woohoo! I hope slot games aren't far behind, I actually knew about this as I am a Playnow player already and asked support about this earlier in the year, they said this was coming in the future but I thought we were still at least a year out :O

[love2winalot]

Hiya: This is why the UIGEA in America is Retarded. On one hand they say, "It is money laundering, and funding terrorist". If that is true, then should not America now add Canada to the Axis of Evil?

[me_and_ed]

So typical BCLC, Orbis Openbet games like PIMP MY SLOT (an all time pinnacle of graphics technology, bring bandaids for bleeding eyes!!!), the lowest paytables in the industry.

[BodogBecky]

Totally crazy, isn't it? Ugh, AMERICA!! (and I'm American, hehe )

Anyway, my boss Calvin Ayre certainly has an opinion on this move by BC...he thinks it's both good and bad news...take a look at his full article if interested, it's a great read!!

Canada breaks the governmental online gambling seal

[darkpixie]

Haven't logged in yet as the site is down/overloaded, but from my earlier conversations with their support it was just table games that were being launched thus far, no slots. Believe me I cried being a slot lover...LOL

[me_and_ed]

............and furthermore, typical govt BS, went and signed up, have to use a cc for address and age verifictaion, they do a credit report with Equifax, I get flagged because something doesnt meet their verification process, so not only do I have an inquiry on the bereau (they say "soft inquiry", I pulled my bereau and its a "hard" so your score can get affected), I still have to send in my D/L and utility bill just to get in the site.

[darkpixie]

Whoa, a hard hit on your Bureau??? That's not cool, I joined a long time ago when it was just bingo and scratch tickets and have pulled my report since and no hits to be seen....

Is there anything in the T&C that discloses that they are gonna hit your bureau?

[me_and_ed]

Whoa, a hard hit on your Bureau??? That's not cool, I joined a long time ago when it was just bingo and scratch tickets and have pulled my report since and no hits to be seen....

Is there anything in the T&C that discloses that they are gonna hit your bureau?

I could not find it, however after 37 mins on hold to c/s she pointed it out to me.

[Simmo!]

Haven't logged in yet as the site is down/overloaded, but from my earlier conversations with their support it was just table games that were being launched thus far, no slots. Believe me I cried being a slot lover...LOL

There are slots there. But you'll still be in tears when you see them LOL. Orbis? Aren't Cryptologic a Canadian company?