CANADA - Declining revenues and stiff competition have forced legislators in Canada to try and setup sport betting operations in Canadian casinos.

Canadian casinos are experiencing dips in their revenues thanks to a high Canadian dollar plus fewer visits by American tourists who opt to instead gamble inside American soil.

Case in point, casinos in Niagara have done recent layoffs due to decreased number of customers and patronage of horse racing at Fort Erie declined as Americans preferred to gamble nearer like in New York state.

Legislators also hinted at other border issues that dampened Americans' enthusiasm for gaming across the border.

Allowing sports betting operations in Canada's casinos according to lawmakers will allow them to better compete with American casinos and help curb illegal sports betting done by Canadian citizens on offshore and unregulated internet gambling sites.

The plan however entails adjustments to Canada's criminal codes as well as changes in the laws of the different provinces on sportsbook regulation.

The federal government of Canada and the provincial government of Ontario are already working on the plan cooperatively but no deadline has been set.