BCLC not taking a hit from NHL lockout
Posted November 27, 2012 8:28 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Sports betters in BC love their hockey, but it seems the NHL lockout isn’t putting much of a dent in business for the BC Lottery Corporation.
It has seen a five per cent spike in sports betting this fiscal year.
“We’ve launched a new sports betting product, so we’ve actually seen an increase in the amount of sports that people are wagering on without hockey,” says Chris Fairclough with BCLC.
“Just anecdotally, it is a huge surprise to us; but with the new sports betting product that we offer, you can bet on everything from darts to cricket to ping pong, so there’s more options available,” he adds.
Last year, about 30 per cent of BCLC’s sports betting revenue came from the NHL.
The new features have helped to make up the difference and then some.
Fairclough says it’s hard to say how much of an increase BCLC will see when the NHL returns. “That will depend on how long the lockout is, but we do anticipate a bump.”
NHL players have been locked out for months. The league and the NHL Player’s Association have agreed to let a mediator help with the negotiations.
