In Ontario, the iGaming industry (sports betting and online casino) is regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, while horse racing bets still fall under the purview of the Canadian Parimutuel Agency (CPMA). What this means is that while provincial governments have the power to regulate gambling on sports, gambling on horse racing remains out of their direct jurisdiction, as a different entity controls it. While sports betting, along with betting on horses is legal, horse racing betting in Canada is regulated at the federal level, and not at the provincial level.

Why is horse racing the only sport that has been omitted? Across all the commercial sportsbooks (like Bet365 and Fanduel) that are now operational in Ontario, none are able to offer bets for horse racing. Ontario’s new gambling market has welcomed some of the biggest sportsbooks in the world, but their platforms appear to have one glaring omission that many sports betting fans can’t quite get over. Users can still bet on horse racing, but not only in newly licensed sportsbooks in Ontario.