by Devon Chappell, News Staff Writer

August 28, 2009
 

President and CEO of the British Columbia Lotteries Commission, Michael Graydon, recently sent out a very interesting press release, citing BCLC's intention to provide online casino games through its website, PlayNow.com by the year 2010. That's in just little over four months. A bold move to say the least, BCLC claims this new service will be the first of its kind in all of Canada and North America for that matter.

While the option of playing online casino games at a government-controlled gambling monopoly will indeed be a first for N. America, (until now, only lottery, sports and horseracing have been permitted), the option of having safe and fair online casino games to play is by no means a first. And as much as Graydon may try to suggest that BCLC's online casino offering is more superior and responsible than offshore online casinos, the truth of the matter is that BCLC is to become just another face in the crowd, albeit a well-branded one.

Graydon's main argument for supporting the decision to begin offering online casino games via PlayNow, is that British Columbia is losing millions in tax revenue each year due to the fact that British Columbians are choosing to gamble an estimated $87 million each year at offshore online casinos. So, instead of having that money go outside of BC, the Lotteries Commission is going to "take one for the team" and allow BC citizens to play online casino games with the Lotteries Commission. Graydon even suggested that BC gamblers would much rather prefer to spend their money at BC operators.

No to sound facetious or anything, because let's face it, if the BCLC shows they can successfully offer and manage online casino gambling, that's another credit for the internet betting industry as a whole. So, here's the kicker. Graydon didn't say whether the BCLC supports open regulation for all BC operators. He simply made it clear that it's night time the BCLC began to offer online casino games.

And not just any online gaming, but online gambling conducted in a responsible manner. Not that offshore licensed online casinos haven't been doing so already, Graydon expressed confidence that the BCLC has what it takes to remain competitive with the most successful and established online casinos in business.

If that competition rests outside of BC or could possibly include other operators within BC, remains to be seen. For that to happen, BC would need to do some serious legislating and de-monopolizing.

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