Government-owned lotto corporations in Atlantic Canada and British Columbia are evaluating bids from companies looking for to provide a "national" sports betting platform that will complete with offshore and unregulated online gaming operators.

- Lottery corporations in Atlantic Canada and British Columbia released an RFP in March seeking a "nationwide" innovation platform for sports betting
- The lottery games are now reviewing bids to provide that platform and strategy to announce the winner at a later date
- The winning bidder will be gotten in touch with to power a single brand name, PROLINE, that lotteries will use to provide in-person and online sports wagering, the latter in competition against offshore and unregulated operators

The Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) and the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) released an ask for propositions (RFP) in March for a "National Sports Betting Solution."

That technology is being looked for to power a single, familiar sportsbook brand - PROLINE - that the lottos can utilize to offer in-person and online sports wagering.

Bettors could then expect a consistent level of service from this PROLINE, whether they're in British Columbia or Prince Edward Island. ALC already uses the PROLINE branding for its online sports wagering efforts, while BCLC utilizes its PlayNow platform, which is also utilized in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

An ALC representative validated to Covers on Tuesday that the RFP closed on May 5 and that submissions are now being evaluated.

"The results of the RFP process will be openly posted when an effective advocate has been identified," they included in an email.

The winning bidder will provide ALC and BCLC, as well as Loto-Québec (LQ) and possibly other interested lottos, with sportsbook technology the government-owned corporations can utilize to take on the overseas and unregulated operators that continue to be prominent in Canada.

Those "grey market" operators have actually been a thorn in the side of government-owned lottery corporations for several years, as they represent a big chunk of all online betting in Canada. On Monday, Manitoba's lottery game was even approved an injunction against among those offshore operators, the Antigua and Barbuda-based Bodog.

Appears like a Manitoba court has actually granted the local lotto and gaming corporation an injunction against overseas sportsbook Bodog. Potentially precedent-setting advancement in Canada, which has a big "grey market" for online betting: pic.twitter.com/052Js8ZBzf

Having a single sportsbook brand in a number of jurisdictions might likewise make it easier for the lottery games to hammer home the point that PROLINE is the only authorized website in their particular provinces.

Here's the scenario

Trying to make that point right now can be challenging, as overseas operators are quickly available in jurisdictions where they are not licensed to do service. Bettors may not understand or may not care about the legal status of a website.

Complicating matters further is Ontario's launch of a competitive iGaming market in 2022 that licensed dozens of private-sector sports betting and casino gaming sites to operate. Advertising by those sites can spill over into other provinces, such as B.C., where the websites are not authorized. Alberta is preparing to introduce a comparable iGaming market.

BCLC has voiced concerns about Ontario-licensed brands marketing themselves beyond the latter province, and is stressed over what an Alberta launch will do. It's also been declared Ontario-licensed websites are nudging players from outside the province toward associated websites that are based abroad.

What ALC and BCLC are looking for could enable them, and others, to point consumers to a single authorized brand, PROLINE.

"The Operators are teaming up to select a single Supplier with which they will each negotiate an agreement to offer an innovation platform as well as the trading and liability management services that will make it possible for each of the Operators to provide sports wagering through the Supplier; collectively considered the National Sports Betting Solution," the RFP released in March stated. "This collaboration aims to provide a best-in-class nationwide sports wagering item under one brand 'PROLINE,' which various Canadian Lottery Corporations have actually utilized considering that 1992."

The government-owned Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., which went from being the province's only authorized sports betting and iGaming operator to one of 50, is getting a brand-new sportsbook tech service provider: Kambi.

OLG's shift from FDJ to Kambi anticipated to be performed in H2 of 2025. pic.twitter.com/rPzyyh3tE0

The RFP includes that extra provincial operators will can join the "cumulative," if and when they so select.

Notably, Ontario's government-owned lotto and video gaming corporation currently utilizes the PROLINE brand name for its retail and online sports betting efforts.

Kambi? Could be!

Kambi Group PLC said in February that it is taking control of as the sportsbook tech provider for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. (OLG) from FDJ Group.