iOn August 10, 2010, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) announced that it will be extending its brand to Internet gaming (iGaming). In determining the nature and scope of its future iGaming product, OLG focused on analyzing and enhancing best practices and security procedures adopted in other jurisdictions across Canada and Europe and committed to implementing a strong, responsible gaming program and offering increased player protections, secure transactions, and data privacy.
On April 12, 2013, OLG selected a vendor, SPIELO G2, to assist OLG with the provision of iGaming services. According to a press release by SPIELO G2, Boss Media AP, a part of SPIELO G2, was selected by OLG to be OLG’s primary service provider of online casino games, back office, and player services. The selection of SPIELO G2 is not surprising, as SPIELO G2 has figured prominently in providing iGaming solutions not only to various Canadian provincial gaming monopolies, but also to government gaming monopolies around the world.
In Canada, SPIELO G2 launched the Canadian Poker Network, the first (and only) legal poker network in North America, which allows players from British Columbia, Quebec, and Manitoba to play on the same poker network. Globally, some of SPIELO G2’s recent customers include Austrian Lotteries, Veikkaus in Finland, Svenska Spel in Sweden, and Norsk Tipping in Norway.
The iGaming website will be located at the URL http://playolg.ca. According to a press release issued by OLG, lottery and casino gaming will be available initially, followed at a later date by bingo, sports wagering, online poker, and other new products.
As noted by OLG President and CEO Rod Phillips, “moving into the Internet gaming market is an important milestone for the modernization of OLG. We are pleased to offer a safe, secure, regulated, and entertaining Internet gaming option in Ontario where profits will support those things that are important to the people of this province – health care and community infrastructure.”
SPIELO International President and CEO Walter Bugno has stated that SPIELO G2 will ensure that OLG’s entry into iGaming will allow OLG to meet OLG’s goals of becoming an innovative and sustainable organization by “providing products and services that will delight players, while adhering to the highest standards of responsible gambling and player protection.”
Ontario will be the 8th province to offer iGaming. Canadian provinces already offering iGaming are British Columbia, Quebec, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Prince Edward Island.
