FanDuel Sportsbook will be among the first operators in Ontario sports betting near next week’s start.
FanDuel Group announced Thursday it will launch sports betting in Ontario in April. An official FanDuel Sportsbook launch date is to be determined, according to a FanDuel spokesperson. The operator’s announcement comes less than a week before the commercial online gaming market opens in the province.
“We’re so thrilled to open our Canadian office and bring FanDuel’s world-class sportsbook and casino to Canada’s passionate sports fans,” FanDuel Group CEO Amy Howe said in a release. “This is a huge moment for the industry and we look forward to providing Canadians with entertaining and responsible sports experiences.”
FanDuel in Ontario sports betting
FanDuel has an office in Toronto, with its Canada sports betting operation led by Dale Hooper. The company hired Hooper, a former Deloitte executive, in October 2021.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario approved FanDuel’s sportsbook and online casino apps in March. The AGCO has listed 25 licensed operators as of Friday morning. Operators still need to enter a commercial agreement with iGaming Ontario before launching.
Like in the US, FanDuel said responsible gaming will be at the forefront of its Ontario sports betting launch.
FanDuel pulls DFS out of Ontario
While FanDuel is launching products in Ontario in April, it is also taking one out as the company shut down daily fantasy sports Friday. FanDuel’s DFS products will remain active in other Canadian provinces.
“Unfortunately, games offered in the regulated market currently cannot include shared liquidity with other jurisdictions – meaning Ontario players would only be able to play against other Ontario players,” FanDuel spokesperson Kevin Hennessy told LSR this week. “Contests would need to be smaller, with significantly smaller prizing. FanDuel knows such a product would not be attractive to our Ontario players.”
Other DFS companies also plan to pull out of Ontario because of regulatory issues, according to the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association.
