Woodbine Entertainment, Canada’s leading race track operator, and global sports betting leader bet365, have announced that horse racing is now available to Ontario sports bettors through bet365’s Ontario site.

“This a great day for Ontario sports bettors and especially for the horse racing industry in the province,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment in a press release on Friday (Aug. 18). “For over a year, we have been working hard with regulators, government agencies and our partners at bet365 to develop the technology and satisfy all requirements to allow players to access pari-mutuel horse racing betting products using accounts with legal gaming operators in Ontario with the customer experience at the forefront. Betting on horse racing in Ontario is now on its way to becoming more accessible than ever.

“I would like to thank Member of Parliament for Saskatoon – Grasswood, Kevin Waugh, for listening to our concerns during the legislation process and recognizing the risk it posed to the horse racing industry, and ultimately pausing the Private Members Bill to ensure the industry would be protected,” continued Lawson. “We also wouldn’t have been successful on this front without the support of the Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General for Canada and the Justice Committee for working with the horse racing industry.

“I would also like to thank the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency (CPMA) and our Provincial Government including the Honourable Doug Ford, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), iGaming Ontario, and the Ministry of the Attorney General for all of their efforts in supporting this initiative that will contribute to the growth of horse racing and this important agricultural segment of the economy,” added Lawson.

As revealed by Lawson at the King's Plate press conference on Wednesday, this innovative solution — which is exclusively available to bet365’s customers — gives players with accounts on bet365’s platform seamless access to pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing.

In addition, Woodbine Entertainment and bet365 jointly announced a four-year marketing partnership. As part of the new agreement, bet365 becomes the Official Online Sports Betting Partner of Woodbine Entertainment and will receive exclusive branding opportunities in the sports betting category on-site at Woodbine Racetrack, in network television and simulcast broadcasts, across digital properties and virtual signage.

At Woodbine Racetrack, bet365 receives naming rights for the apron winner’s circle, inner turf course and Thoroughbred paddock, in addition to signage on the lower rail around the race track and grandstand. Additionally, bet365 will have naming rights for stakes races at both racetracks throughout the year.

“On top of this being the biggest marketing partnership in our long and storied history, Woodbine is thrilled to be partnering with a global sports betting leader that is focused on growth and shares many of the same values as an organization,” said Lawson. “As the sports betting sector in Ontario continues to mature, Woodbine Entertainment is poised to be a leader, and partnering with bet365 will help us do just that.”

“We are excited to partner with Woodbine Entertainment in this significant milestone as horse racing is now available to Ontario sports bettors. With bet365’s years of expertise combined with Woodbine’s prestigious history and passion for the sport, we are confident that our customers will have a thoroughly enjoyable experience,” a bet365 spokesperson said.

“This is just the start of a mutually beneficial partnership that creates opportunity in the near and long-term for all stakeholders, including our customers,” said Michael Copeland, President, Commercial, for Woodbine Entertainment. “We are excited to partner together and look forward to leveraging our collective leadership positions in this sector to unlock new and exciting opportunities.”

“It was very important for us to find a true partner in every sense of the word and in partnering with bet365 we have achieved that,” Lawson added. “We now look forward to working together for many years to come, which will benefit the horse racing industry in Canada well into the future. On behalf of Woodbine Entertainment, and the horse racing industry in Ontario, a huge thanks to bet365 for partnering with us on creating this innovative technological solution that will serve customers and support the growth of horse racing in the province.”

(Woodbine)