The land-based gambling industry of Ontario is pushing to get a newly drafted bill - Bill 60 - into the hands of the provincial parliament of Ontario, Canada.  In an attempt to crack down on online casino sites and internet betting portals that are not regulated in Canada, Bill 60 seeks to make advertising by such sites an illegal activity.  According to the bill's drafter, Jeff Leal, the increased growth in the number of illegal online casino sites operating both on land and offshore, is threatening the welfare and existence of the horse racing industry and other land-based gambling operations in Ontario.

Aimed to protect gambling businesses who are currently regulated by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, Bill 60 would specifically prohibit the publication, distribution and broadcast of any advertisements that offer services by an online casino or internet betting site that has not been licensed by proper regulatory authorities to do business in Ontario or Canada. The gambling destinations that Leal says are suffering the most are Kawartha Downs and Kawartha Slots (which both employ a large number of Leal's constituents in Peterborough), as well as many other sites throughout Canada like the Toronto Woodbine Racetrack and Mohawk Racetrack in Campbellville.

Both the Woodbine and Campbellville tracks are owned and operated by the Woodbine Entertainment Group, which has jumped on the bandwagon in full support of Bill 60.  The company spoke out in support of the bill, stating they are losing an estimated $100 million to online casinos and gambling sites not authorized to do business in Canada, going on to further site that over one-hundred internet betting sites are offering wagers on events hosted by their racetracks.

The Legislative Assembly's Standing Committee on Justice Policy currently is considering scheduling the bill for review, although no exact time has been given.  Clerk of the committee, Anne Stokes, said it is unlikely the bill will be considered before the Fall of 2006, since there are two government bills scheduled for the Summer recess.  However, this will not be stopping Woodbine Entertainment Group from giving a presentation backing Bill 60 to the Committee.

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, which in addition to their regulation responsibilities, also serves as a government controlled gambling and entertainment group in charge of the Ontario Lottery, nine different casinos and seventeen slot machine betting sites and racetracks in Ontario.  They have not spoken out on Bill 60 as of yet.