The Federal Court in Ottawa has been asked to decide whether Canada's first government-sanctioned Internet gambling site is legal.
The Ontario Racing Commission suggests a rule change quietly made last year by former agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief exceeded his legal authority. As a result, a popular racetrack betting site launched last January by Woodbine Entertainment Group could be illegal, it says.
At stake is HorsePlayer Interactive, a novel online site that is bringing in about $1-million a week in wagers.
Unless the government decides otherwise, the site will continue operating while the court challenge unfolds.
At issue is a rule change that allowed horse-racing bets to be placed by "any telecommunication device."
