iGaming Business – Canadian lottery games operator Atlantic Lottery Cooperation has become the latest gambling regulator in the country to express an interest in launching a licensed online casino.
According to Onlinecasinos.org, support is high for regulated online gambling in the country, although some governments in the Maritimes provinces do not fully back the plan.
Maritimes gambling is collaborated under the Atlantic Lottery Corporations. The operator argued that the provinces are losing out on money due to the lack of a regulated online casino.
Michelle Carinci, chief executive officer of Atlantic Lottery Corporation, said that an online casino for the Maritimes is necessary in order to keep pace with various other jurisdictions across the country.
Canadians can only currently access online casinos based in offshore jurisdictions in addition to licensed provincial casinos.
Carinci said that such offshore locations take money away from the Eastern Canada economy and that a government-backed casino will reduce the amount of money leaving the economy, as well as providing Canadians with a secure online product.
The government of New Brunswick, one of the three Maritime provinces, is less supportive of the move.
New Brunswick Finance Minister Peter Mesheau said that while Atlantic Lottery Corporation does have the authority to study the impact of online gambling, he does not support an online casino.
Provincially-backed casinos have sprung up in other areas of the country, including Espacejeux.com in Quebec from Loto-Quebec.
