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| Published On Aug 3, 2021 9:28 am CEST  |  Updated on Oct 19, 2021 7:56 am CEST | By iGaming Team

Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation Launches New App

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Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) recently launched its hotly anticipated OLG app, replacing its antiquated original. The development of the app is a gargantuan undertaking, giving Ontarians a ‘local’ online casino option that matches the best available on the market today.

The app is the result of a close collaboration between OLG and Bede Gaming, with the aim of providing a one-stop solution for gamblers in Ontario. The app leverages Bede’s expertise in digital platforms, allowing OLG to offer players an industry-leading app experience.

Canadians Love a Wager

Canadians are known to love gambling and Ontarians are undoubtedly largely responsible for this reputation. It’s easy to see why: gambling participation in the province reaches over 80%. In terms of gambling revenue, Ontario generates 43% of the country’s overall bottom line.

It’s not difficult to find the reasons why. Canada has a long tradition of gambling, and both land-based and online options are amongst the best on the planet. And they keep on coming; SuperSeven Casino, for example, is one of the recent additions where Canadians can try their luck.

So in terms of market research, releasing a new app seems like a no-brainer choice, a guaranteed success. And so far, things are looking pretty good. OLG has also promised to increase its contribution to the provincial government, thereby increasing the government coffers during a difficult economic landscape.

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It further shows that the government has acknowledged just how much money it is losing through the so-called ‘grey market’ (this article gives solid overview on the issue). It is estimated Ontarians spend over $500 million per year on unregulated markets that don’t generate income for the state. If Canadians are looking to gamble no matter what the hurdles, why not offer a safe and regulated space that also boosts tax intake?

How Does the App Differ from Previous Versions?

Some Canadians will read this news and ask themselves what all the fuss is about. Isn’t there an OLG app already? And it works pretty well, too. Surely this is just a new iteration of the same thing, right?

Not quite.

The new app is a complete reinvention of what came before. The official site goes into the functionality in a little more detail, but these are some of the new things you can expect:

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  • Buy tickets. Customers used to complain about this all the time. They couldn’t buy tickets on the old app. Simple, yet difficult to implement. The new app offers easy buying options for lottery tickets.
  • Play casino games. The old app was essentially built around lottery tickets. But the partnership with Bede gives players far more in terms of functionality. You can now play your favorite slots, table games like blackjack and roulette, instant win scratch cards, video poker, and a lot more. Pretty much everything iGaming has to offer, it’s here.
  • Free demos. Not quite ready to put your hard-earned money on the line? The new app lets you play games for free, with no strings attached.
  • Deposit money. The new app has an easy payment system, which means you can top up your account easily and quickly.
  • Withdraw your winnings. Get lucky at the slot machines? Quickly withdraw your winnings and put them safely into your savings account, no issues.

Of course, you will still get everything the old app offered as well. That includes scanning any tickets you’ve bought at a physical location, having a look at winning numbers (and if you’ve won the jackpot!), and getting push notifications for draws.

Feedback So Far? Pretty Good

This is not the OLG’s first rodeo. The old app was released a few years ago, and it was decent, but low frills. It had very limited functionality. Good for its time, but definitely needed renewal.

The new app is definitely the right step for OLG, and it has received stellar reviews so far. It seems like the developers really know what they’re doing and we’re looking forward to the new additions.

The downside? So far, it’s only available on Google Play. iOS users are out of luck. But the devs promise a new OLG App is on its way for Apple fans, so let’s hope they churn out that code relatively quickly.

Perhaps one downside is that you’ll have to register all over again if you download the new app. The old credentials won’t work. It would have been nice if they’d managed to offer a more seamless transition, but it’s a small price to pay for the level of upgrades on offer.

If you’re still using the old app, no fear. There is still time to get used to the transition period. However, the official word is that it will eventually be retired. Considering just how much more the new one can do, however, there is no point sticking around.

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Our advice? If you’re in Ontario, it’s the essential app for iGaming.