A launch at long last

DraftKings has finally launched its online casino and sportsbook app in Ontario, Canada. The sportsbook operator is more than six weeks behind multiple rivals who launched on the day the market began on April 4.

access to Ontario’s population of 14.6 million

Wednesday’s launch gives DraftKings its second-largest market providing access to Ontario’s population of 14.6 million. With the addition of Ontario, the operator will now be able to offer its services to around 40% of Canada’s total population.

The long wait to go live in the market has clearly not fazed the Boston-based brand. Earlier in May, DraftKings CEO Jason Robins told analysts and investors that the speed to launch in Ontario would not have a big impact on his firm’s market share in the province.

Nevertheless, in a news release Wednesday, Robins described the moment as a “significant milestone in our expansion efforts.”

Enter DraftKings

Only New York with its population of 19.8 million gives DraftKings a bigger market than Ontario. As of Wednesday, the operator took its place as the 13th approved sportsbook to go live in Ontario, alongside familiar US competitors FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars Sportsbook.

more than 130 online casino game variations

According to an official news release, DraftKings’ sportsbook offering will allow Ontarian bettors to wager on multiple sports markets complete with a variety of parlay options, including same-game parlays. DraftKings Casino has also gone live, offering more than 130 online casino game variations.

Commenting on Wednesday, Robins’ opening gambit noted the elements of fun and control in DraftKings’ offering. He said his firm aimed to provide Ontario’s passionate fanbase with “the most entertaining and responsible gaming experience possible.”

Two launch, one shutters

The same day its sportsbook and casino went live, DraftKings shuttered its daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests in Ontario. Covers sports betting reporter Geoff Zochodne shared news of DraftKings shutting the door on DFS on Tuesday via Twitter:

DraftKings DFS users in Ontario have now received a message saying that they cannot enter any contests “due to your current location.”

In a recent communication to Ontarian DFS players, DraftKings acknowledged the “unfortunate news” of the shuttering, countered by news it would “continue to work with the provincial government to try to bring daily fantasy sports back to Ontario as soon as possible.”