Ontario collaborates with Woodbine on an expansion of horse race betting, backed by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG)
In a groundbreaking move, Woodbine Entertainment and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) have joined forces to bring live horse racing betting to the digital age in Ontario. This collaboration marks a significant step in OLG's mandate of supporting the horse racing industry in the province.
For the first time, OLG players can now place online bets on live horse races across Ontario and beyond via the OLG website and app. This integration of Woodbine’s horse racing wagering product, powered by the HPIbet platform, offers a seamless and user-friendly experience for bettors.
Key features of this partnership include:
- Access: Players can bet on live races at Ontario tracks, including major events like The King’s Plate at Woodbine Racetrack.
- Betting type: All bets utilize pari-mutuel wagering, the only legal form of horse racing betting in Canada.
- User experience: The partnership offers a plug-and-play, streamlined, and user-friendly experience for bettors.
- Support for the industry: The collaboration supports a vibrant, competitive, and sustainable horse racing industry in Ontario, providing employment for approximately 23,000 full-time equivalent jobs.
- Responsible gambling: OLG ensures access to responsible gambling tools and support resources for online bettors.
The partnership was publicly launched in mid-August 2025, coinciding with The King’s Plate race held August 16, underscoring its immediate use for prominent Ontario horse racing events.
Brad Senkiw, a journalist covering the expanded live horse race betting, and Dave Pridmore, OLG’s chief gaming officer, expressed excitement about offering this experience to online players, providing another way for them to engage in horse racing.
The specific terms of the partnerships between OLG, Woodbine Entertainment, and other parties involved in the expanded live horse race betting are not provided. However, it is clear that this strategic alliance expands horse race betting access for Ontario players while reinforcing the province's horse racing ecosystem through a digital platform integrated in OLG’s services.
This collaboration between Woodbine Entertainment and OLG represents an important step in OLG's mandate of supporting the horse racing industry in Ontario and further digitalizing the horse racing landscape in the province.
[1] Woodbine Entertainment press release, August 2025. [2] OLG press release, August 2025. [3] HPIbet press release, August 2025. [4] Responsible Gambling Council, "Responsible Gambling in Ontario", accessed August 2025, https://www.responsiblegambling.org/about-us/who-we-are/.
Bettors can now place online bets on live horse races across Ontario and beyond, with major events like The King’s Plate at Woodbine Racetrack included, thanks to the collaboration between Woodbine Entertainment and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG). This integration offers a seamless and user-friendly experience for bettors, utilizing pari-mutuel wagering, the only legal form of horse racing betting in Canada.
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