With word that Ontario will follow British Columbia’s lead by launching its own online gambling site, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s flagship news program The National has asked Calvin Ayre to weigh in with his two cents. While Calvin applauds this move (as he has personally lobbied for this kind of governmental acceptance of online gaming for over a decade now), his first concern would be that the Ontario Lottery And Gaming Corporation works out the kinks BEFORE the site starts handling players’ money (unlike BCLC and their now notorious PlayNow). Seriously, get good technology – preferably Made In Canada technology. Because you know the media (this site included) will have their “OLG OMG!” headlines ready and waiting for the first sign of technological ineptitude. Seriously. Don’t fuck this up like BC did. Clean the spinach out from between your teeth before the girl opens the door, because there is NO undoing the strength (or weakness) of that first impression.
Secondly, Calvin hopes Ontario’s politicians don’t attempt to pass this move off as being motivated by a desire to protect Ontarians from ‘rogue operators’, or as they’re known in the rest of the world, regulated and (usually) London-based international online gaming companies. Let’s call a spade a spade, shall we? Ontario is getting into this game for the same reason the private companies did – the money. Any other reason you might hear coming from an OLG-branded podium is, to put it politely, not true.
To watch The National’s broadcast in its entirety, click here. The gambling coverage begins around the 7:25 mark and continues for about 4:30.
