Attention Ontario NFBC Members: Can't Join After April 4th

[Greg Ambrosius]

This is a release from the Fantasy Sports Gaming Association and it will affect Ontario fantasy players if something doesn't change immediately. This is another form of government regulations that could prevent sports fans from playing legal fantasy games, but the NFBC and SportsHub Games Network will obviously have to comply until a change is made.

Here you go:

While the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association (FSGA) welcomes the regulation of single event sports wagering in Ontario, the regulations have unfortunately made operating paid fantasy sports contests in the province impossible for almost every operator. An estimated 2 million fantasy sports players in Ontario will not be able to play paid fantasy sports contests as a result. And the exodus has already begun, as evidenced by FanDuel’s announcement March 25 that it will no longer offer paid or free daily fantasy contests in Ontario starting April 1.

The current regulations from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario require a CDN$100,000 registration fee and 25% revenue, both almost double the rate of any U.S. state.

Paid fantasy sports contests operate differently than sports betting, iGaming or brick and mortar casinos, with low margins and player pools from multiple jurisdictions. Large registration fees are especially prohibitive for smaller operators and reduce competition as witnessed in U.S. states such as Indiana and Delaware. Ontario’s fees and regulations are large enough, however, that even the largest operators can no longer offer contests in the province.

We ask that our member companies and millions of fantasy sports enthusiasts contact their elected representatives in Ontario to let them know that their ability to play paid fantasy sports contests is in serious jeopardy. The FSGA will continue to work with the AGCO to find a path for our member companies to return to operating in Ontario.

[Thurman15]

Well this sucks. There are a lot of us from Ontario. Is this immediate ? I'm supposed to be in New York for auctions this weekend ??

[Greg Ambrosius]

Well this sucks. There are a lot of us from Ontario. Is this immediate ? I'm supposed to be in New York for auctions this weekend ??

You are alright for this weekend and anyone who has already signed up for this season is good to go.

This affects anything going forward, unless the legislature changes this stupid, stupid rule. We are now exempting as many as eight states because of laws like this and now adding residents of Ontario. But we have someone on this and hopefully we can get this law modified before next baseball season or even the upcoming football season.

It's so dumb. Why don't legislators realize that legalized sports betting AND season-long fantasy sports can coincide. Nobody is losing revenue in DFS or legalized sports betting because people are also playing season-long fantasy sports. But there's nobody fighting for our space and as a former leader in the Fantasy Sports Trade Association it pisses me off to no end. Hopefully the FSGA will work to get this changed.

[Greg Ambrosius]

The deadline for Ontario players to sign up and play in the NFBC this year is Monday, April 4th. We can't take any signups after midnight of that day. Anyone who has signed up and paid by April 4th is legal to play in 2022 and to win prizes. Thanks all and good luck.