On Thursday, January 8, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. announced the province-wide launch of its internet gaming website playolg.ca.

Via release, the OLG announced that the launch came after a successful preview period which was available to eligible members of OLG's Winner's Circle Rewards program.

"We are excited to launch PlayOLG, an important milestone in the modernization of gaming in Ontario," John Wisternoff, OLG's vice president of iGaming was quoted as saying in the release. "For Ontarians who love the excitement of gaming, PlayOLG offers a safe and regulated alternative to grey market websites."

The contents of the OLG release appear below.

PlayOLG launches province wide

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) today announces the province-wide launch of its Internet gaming site, PlayOLG.ca.

Following a successful preview by eligible members of OLG's Winner's Circle Rewards program, PlayOLG is now live and available to legal-aged Ontarians. Eligible players across the province can now register for an account, play games and fully experience PlayOLG.

With the launch of PlayOLG, Ontario joins British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec and all of the Atlantic Provinces in offering online gaming. Currently, approximately 500,000 Ontarians spend an estimated $400 - $500 million annually on grey market sites that are not regulated in Ontario.

"We are excited to launch PlayOLG, an important milestone in the modernization of gaming in Ontario," said John Wisternoff, OLG's Vice President of iGaming. "For Ontarians who love the excitement of gaming, PlayOLG offers a safe and regulated alternative to grey market websites."

PlayOLG features a wide range of interactive casino-style games including slots and table games such as Blackjack, Baccarat, Single-player Poker and Roulette, as well as the sale of LOTTO 6/49 and LOTTO MAX lottery tickets and ENCORE.

In addition to offering players the latest in Internet games and entertainment, PlayOLG provides a dedicated customer service team based in Ontario.

With the launch of PlayOLG as a new line of business, OLG will provide more money to the Government of Ontario for hospitals, community infrastructure and other government priorities.