Score Media and Gaming (SCR.T) is coming out in support for the introduction of Ontario provincial legislation to facilitate the introduction of internet gaming (i-gaming) in the province as part of its 2020 budget, an initiative being called called protect, support, recover, according to a press release.

Yesterday, the province gave the official confirmation of the legislation that should it pass would give the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) authority to manage the relationship between the provincial government and internet gaming operators.

“We fully support this action by the provincial government that moves us a significant step closer towards safe and regulated sports betting in Ontario. Canada is theScore’s home turf and we are eager to bring our award-winning sportsbook, theScore Bet, to our highly engaged fans across Ontario, a huge market with a population larger than all but four U.S. states. We’re also encouraged by the province’s commitment to continue to work with the federal government in their effort to legalize single-event sports wagering in Canada, where legislation to effect this change was debated in the House of Commons earlier this week,” said John Levy, Score Media founder and CEO.

The province and the AGCO has agreed to collaborate with stakeholders, including Score Media, to help design an i-gaming market for Ontario in order to “reflect consumer preferences and foster an exciting gaming experience, while ensuring that appropriate responsible gaming protections are in place.”

Score Media’s media app is available for both iOS and Android, and delivers news and data for a multitude of different sports throughout North America. It’s mobile sportsbook, theScore Bet offers an immersive mobile sports-betting offering, and includes pregame and in-play betting and data across all major sports leagues and events. At present, theScore Bet is live in New Jersey, Colorado and Indiana and the company anticipates more states will follow.

—Joseph Morton