Bill C-218 – a bill passed by the Canadian Senate amends the Canadian Criminal Code – allowing single-event betting on sporting events.
Previously this form of betting was only permitted on horse-racing in in Canada.
The legislation was previously passed by the House of Commons on April 22nd and has now sailed through the Senate with no new amendments required.
The bill makes its way to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court where it will receive royal assent. Then the onus is on each of Canada’s provinces and territories to decide how to implement and regulate legal single-event sports betting within their own gambling markets / territories.
The Canadian Gaming Association President and CEO Paul Burns said:
“THIS IS A MAJOR MILESTONE AND ACHIEVEMENT FOR THE CANADIAN GAMING INDUSTRY. THE CGA HAS BEEN WORKING TO LEGALIZE SINGLE-EVENT SPORTS BETTING FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS AND BILL C-218 BENEFITED FROM A GROUNDSWELL OF BROAD STAKEHOLDER SUPPORT FROM ACROSS CANADA. THE NEED FOR REGULATION, OVERSIGHT, PLAYER PROTECTION, AND THE CREATION OF ECONOMIC BENEFITS FOR CANADA WAS UNDERSTOOD BY EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, WHICH IS WHY THE BILL WAS SUCCESSFULLY PASSED.”
Many of Canada’s provinces have previously suggested they would move to quickly to launch single-event sports betting in their jurisdictions – and with parlay betting currently the only available form of legal wagering throughout Canada, many hope that single-event wagering will be a reality by the end of 2021.
Based in London, Natasha is a former sports journalist with experience working for some of the biggest athletes & brands in the world of sports and iGaming.