"Lawson Discusses Joint Effort with OLG"
In an interview with the Toronto Sun, Jim Lawson, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment, discussed the company's plans to become a prominent player in the sports betting industry. According to Lawson, the integration of horse racing with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp (OLG) could provide a means to modernize and expand horse racing's audience.
The 683-acre Woodbine site development plan includes a 5,000-seat music venue and is set to launch as early as the end of this year. The project, however, has not yet been officially announced or implemented.
Lawson expressed hope for the approval of single-game sports betting legislation, which could pave the way for the integration of horse racing with sports betting platforms. He also mentioned the potential benefits of cross-promotion with other gaming products in Ontario's robust gambling market, especially for attracting younger bettors accustomed to digital sportsbooks.
The HPI betting system is a part of Woodbine's plan for the sports betting industry. The company is negotiating with stakeholders to introduce racing as part of a pro-line type bet, but specific details about the integration of sports betting and horse racing are still unknown.
The impact of the project on horse racing revenue and player attraction is speculative, as it has not been implemented yet. Lawson acknowledged the potential challenge of introducing new people to racing, but expressed optimism that the project could attract many players.
As of July 2025, there is no specific public information detailing a formal integration or partnership between horse racing and the OLG under new or expanded terms. The OLG continues to run live horse racing betting through its existing platforms, but no definitive status or formal new integration has been publicly reported.
In summary, while Ontario’s gambling market is expanding rapidly with sports betting platforms proliferating, and OLG managing horse racing betting services, Woodbine Entertainment likely sees promising future opportunities in further integrating horse racing wagering into the province’s regulated gaming and betting frameworks. Lawson's interview with the Toronto Sun provides a glimpse into the company's plans and ambitions, but the specifics of the project remain to be seen.
- Jim Lawson, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment, aims to integrate horse racing with sports betting platforms, Positioning Woodbine as a significant player in the casino-and-gambling industry that includes sports betting trends.
- Lawson anticipates that the integration of horse racing with sports betting could attract younger bettors accustomed to digital sportsbooks, a move that aligns with the modernization and expansion of horse racing's audience.
- The potential partnership between horse racing and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp (OLG) remains speculative, but the expanding Ontario gambling market presents opportunities for cross-promotion with other gaming products, such as horse-racing and sports-betting, within the casino-and-gambling scene.
