OLG and Woodbine Partner to Expand Horse Racing Access

TORONTO, Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has partnered with Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) to make live Ontario horse racing wagering available to more bettors in Ontario through OLG.ca and the OLG mobile app.

This new agreement allows Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s online players to place bets on live horse races at tracks in Ontario and around the world. The move makes OLG the first Canadian provincial lottery and gaming agency to provide direct digital access to an Ontario horse racing wagering product.

The service is powered by HPIbet, a Canadian online platform for horse race betting. HPIbet offers wagering on hundreds of races daily, covering Canadian venues, top United States circuits, and international events.

Ontario players will have access to well-known racing events such as The King’s Plate, Canada’s oldest continuously run thoroughbred race, scheduled for Saturday, August 16, at Woodbine Racetrack. Races at Mohawk Park and other local tracks will also be available through the platform.

Dave Pridmore, Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s Chief Gaming Officer, said the collaboration expands the ways online customers can enjoy Ontario horse racing.

“We are excited to offer access to this experience to our online players, providing another way for them to engage in the sport of Ontario horse racing. This collaboration represents an important step in our mandate of supporting the sport and a competitive and sustainable Ontario horse racing industry.”

Ontario horse racing helps the area’s money flow, backing jobs, breeding work, and travel. With betting tied to digital streams by Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the sport now can reach folks who don’t often go to race tracks but like online play.

Michael Copeland, boss of Woodbine Entertainment Group, noted the move fits WEG’s aim to meet players where they like, making it simple and handy.

“This tie-up with Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation lets us meet players in a way that fits how folks want to join in sports today. It’s about making a tool that’s easy to use and gets live race action right to fans wherever they may be in Ontario.”

OLG.ca and the OLG app now include a dedicated section for Ontario horse racing. Customers can log in with their existing OLG credentials and place wagers through HPIbet without the need for a separate account.

This set-up gives safe deals, fast odds, live race video, and many bet types from easy win or place choices to harder ones like exactas, trifectas, and more.

People can also look at full race info, check out horse past plays, jockey stats, and trainer wins. This info helps users make good bets while keeping their game safe.

For the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, having horse races adds more to their online mix, which has lotto, casino, and sports bets. For WEG, it gives a new way to find more people and keep money coming in, which helps with prize money and taking care of the place.

The Ontario government keeps backing horse races as a key part of its farm and country money plans. Expanding betting access is viewed as a way to maintain interest and participation in the sport while providing steady funding for industry operations.

Web bets have been on the rise in Ontario since the start of iGaming rules. Firms fight to give many types of things that grab the eye of many types of buyers. By adding horse races to its web picks, Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation uses its role as a state-run firm whose money goes back to local plans like health care, public works, and youth sports.

Woodbine Group runs two big Ontario tracks, Woodbine Race Track in Toronto and Woodbine Mohawk Park in Milton. Each place has many horse races all year. WEG puts money into tech, ads, and site updates to pull in people who come and those who watch online.

With the August 16 King’s Plate approaching, Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation and WEG see the partnership as an opportunity to connect new bettors to one of Canada’s most historic sporting events. By placing Ontario horse racing alongside other forms of online gaming, the two organizations hope to increase engagement while continuing to support the racing industry.