The Atlantic Lottery (ALC) and British Columbia Lottery (BCLC) corporations are collaborating on a national solution for sports betting and inviting other provinces to join them. ALC is a regional lottery serving the four Atlantic provinces, while BCLC has partnered with two Prairie provinces to allow them to share its online site, PlayNow.
On Monday, the lottery corps issued a Request For Proposals (RFP) seeking a “national sports betting solution” on the North American business tender platform, Merx.
Although the ‘issuing organization’ and contact information direct proposals to BCLC, details in the RFP notice indicate ALC is leading the search.
The Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) is conducting this RFP (Request for Proposal) on its own behalf and on behalf of the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) for a National Sports Betting Solution.
The notice also states that other provincial operators—Loto-Québec specifically—are welcome to join the collective later.
Additional provincial Operators will have the right, if and when they choose, to join the collective. Loto-Québec (LQ), at its option, will be able to enter into an Agreement with the Supplier.
Interested parties had one week to respond
According to the RFP, ALC and BCLC seek one company to supply a national sportsbook.
Notably, the RFP will only accept proposals for one week, until Monday, March 24, at 1 p.m., which is an unusually short turnaround.
The RFP notice shares further details of the lottos’ expectations:
The Operators are collaborating to select a single Supplier with which they will each negotiate a contract to provide a technology platform as well as the trading and liability management services that will enable each of the Operators to offer sports betting through the Supplier, collectively deemed the National Sports Betting Solution (the “NSBS). This joint effort aims to offer a best-in-class national sports betting product under the one brand “PROLINE”, which various Canadian Lottery Corporations have used since 1992.
A single sport betting platform solution is meant to enable a consistent sports betting experience for players in each of the operators’ jurisdictions. The Supplier is expected to provide digital sports betting services for all operators under the brand name PROLINE, and retail sports betting services for select Operators under the brand name ‘PROLINE+’ and retail sports betting services for select Operators under the brand name ‘PROLINE’.
Bonus has emailed ALC and BCLC to confirm details of the RFP, including the seven-day deadline for submitting proposals. Neither have immediately responded.
National solution could span most provinces
Notably, the announcement doesn’t explicitly mention Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The prairie provinces and northern territories offer retail sports betting through the Western Canada Lottery Corporation under the Sport Select brand.
However, both provinces offer the same online sports betting product as BC through their PlayNow subdomains. Therefore, Bonus believes they would share in this new solution, regardless of the provider chosen.
We’ve also asked for clarification on that point but, as noted, have not received a response.
If our reading is accurate, Quebec, Alberta, and Ontario will operate outside the country-wide solution.
Alberta could opt in, but Ontario is more unlikely, given that Ontario Lottery Gaming is actively transitioning to Kambi as its sportsbook provider. Even if they did, most Ontario players use private market sites. We expect similar in Alberta when its commercial market launches.
Whether Kambi will seek to become BCLC and ALC’s national supplier is unknown. Bonus emailed Kambi’s media department to confirm intent to respond but has received no immediate response.
However, in an email, Loto-Québec spokesperson and head of press relations, Renaud Dugas, told Bonus that the crown corporation is open to the idea.
We think there’s room for a national product—we already offer that with lottery games. Loto-Québec is willing to consider it.
Update: March 21, 4:11 p.m. ET:
OLG spokesperson Tony Bitoni confirmed to Bonus in an email that it does not intend to join the other provinces in the “national solution.”
However, he also said that Proline has been a trusted platform in Ontario for decades and the national effort will aid in brand recognition regardless.
While OLG is aware of the RFP, [we] do not have plans to join as we are focused on our transition to Kambi.
While PROLINE is a well-known and trusted sports betting brand in Ontario for more than three decades, multiple provinces already use the PROLINE brand as part of their sports offering and this plan will provide further brand alignment across the country.
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