January 08, 2014 - 11:53 AM
WINNIPEG - The Manitoba government's venture into the world of online gambling is generating a lot less money than expected.
The province was aiming to net $1.5 million in its first year from Playnow.com, but made only $300,000 in the six-month period that ended Sept. 30.
Andrea Kowal, with Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries, says the web site launched a year ago and has been competing with many gambling websites around the world.
Kowal also says the agency was hoping to offer lottery tickets and bingo on the website when it launched, but those projects have taken more time than expected.
The Manitoba government has predicted the website will ramp up to generate $17 million a year by 2018, but Kowal says revenue projections for this year and next will have to be adjusted.
Playnow.com generates about $30 million a year for the British Columbia government, while Ontario is planning to start offering online gambling later this year.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014