The marriage between economic problems of state and online sports betting seems to have moved one step closer to the altar as Nova Scotia pushes for online sports betting.  In fact, Atlantic Canadians are searching for a software company that can construct an online sport betting platform as well as the concomitant administrative support system needed to operate it.

The Atlantic Lottery Company is conducting the search, and is now accepting bids from software companies.  It appears that the public is perked up over the idea of wagering on Stanley Cup Hockey as well as on other sports that are popular in .

The Atlantic Lottery Company stands to reap fortunes if online sports betting becomes a reality in Nova Scotia and throughout .  While online gambling is still illegal in the , at least for the moment, as well as are moving closer to legalizing online gambling, including online sports betting.   

With new developments occurring daily, there was no word from spokespersons from the Atlantic Lottery Corp. concerning this matter.  All they would say was that the procurement process was highly confidential, and that there would be no further comments on the progress until a software company had been chosen.  Courtney Pringle, a representative from the Atlantic Lottery Corp., did say that the bidding process was scheduled to be completed by May 6^th, but that plans have not been finalized on how the process will unfold after that date.

It is believed that taxes garnered from the revenues from online sports betting could result in windfalls for the four Atlantic provinces of , as off-shore online betting establishments continue to rake in huge profits from Canadian gamblers.  Some civic leaders, such as Justice Michael Samson, question whether controls could prevent minors from wagering on sports events.  However, a mandated sign-up with a governmental overseeing body could eliminate this issue.

Mr. Samson points out that a Price-Waterhouse report predicts that online sports betting in the would exceed $50 billion over the next ten years.  With prognostications such as this one, it appears that more and more countries will be looking to hook into online sports betting as a way of raising revenues for themselves.