'I'm not in Detroit': Sports fan says new iGaming market is hard to use in Windsor

It's billed as a safer way to do sports betting, butOntario's new iGaming market is causing headaches for at least one Windsorite who says the appsseem to think he's in Michigan.

Bobby Russon says his downtown office is just steps away from the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel, in view of the Detroit skyline. But when it comes to using iGaming, he oftenhas to leave the building and take awalk.

"It sucks. Itmakes no sense," Bobby Russon said of the app thinking he's not in Ontario.

"It's spotty. Sometimes it will ask you to recheck your location and then you lose your bet sheet and then you have to start it all over again."

The province launchediGaming Ontario (IGO) in April, which regulated online gaming sites. The sites that signed up now pay taxes in exchange for being allowed legal access to the Ontario market.

• Ontario's online gaming market launches, but some insiders and experts have concerns

Russon says he often gets a pop-up message when he's tryingto placea bet.While demonstrating to CBC News, he tried to bet on an NBA game.

"You are only able to legally place online wagers while located within the province of Ontario," said amessage from betting app FanDuel.

"Once you are in Ontario, please try again."

He tried again with DraftKings, which saidhe had to make sure he was "well within the permitted area."

"Your location data indicates you are near a permitted area," it said.

Seeking a bet

2 years ago

Duration 1:09

Sports better Bobby Russon hunts for a spot in downtown Windsor to place a bet.

"Sometimes information arrives late about an injury or something and you have a minute or two to get that bet down before the lines move," Russon said. "If you take it seriously, those seconds matter.

"I don't have time at my office in the middle of the day to go do that."

In a written response to CBC News,Bell spokesperson Jessica Bezingersaid that cellular signals can sometimes be stronger over a body of water.

"From time to time, people in our border communities may pick up a U.S. cellular signal," Bezinger wrote.

She said Bellis also reaching out to Russon toattempt resolve the issue.

'I'm clearly on a Canadian tower'

Russonsays he's made sports wagersonlinefor years.He says DraftKings and FanDuelare actually harder to use now that they're available in Ontario.

"I'm clearly on a Canadian [cell] tower," Russon said. "If I sent you a pin of my location, I could text it to youand it would show me asright here like, I'm not in Detroit."

During theinterview, Russon was eventually able to place a bet, but only after walking a few blocks away from his office and restarting his phone.

"We're talking about the difference of 500 metres," he said. "It just doesn't make any sense whatsoever."

Russon says somesites have saidthey're working on the problem, but iGaming Ontario hasn't responded to him.

What iGaming has tosay

For its part,iGaming Ontario told CBC News that it can't comment on issues people may be having with "regulated operator websites."

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) hasits own app in the regulated marketplace, called Proline+.

OLG spokesperson Tony Bitonti saysthere havebeen issuesgeo-locating people using satellite-based internet connections in rural areas, but they haven't had any complaints from people close to the border.

Based on past experience, he suggestedreaching out to Internet providers, such as Bell, Rogers or Cogecoif you are experiencing issues with geo-location.

CBCalsocontacted FanDuel and DraftKings, as well as Telus. DraftKings said they willfollowup with Russon to try to help.