Lawmakers have passed a bill that will bring with it legal (single event) sportsbetting in Canada. The legislation will now head to the Senate for approval where it is expected to pass without too much difficulty.
Bill C-218 will amend the Criminal Code provisions relating to single-event sports betting on games of football, hockey, and basketball among many other sports. This type of sports betting is currently illegal throughout Canada with the exception of horse racing.
Canadian sports fans that want to wager on games must bet on two or more events which, according to conservative MP Kevin Waugh, is limiting the development of the industry. Waugh said that the main goal of the legislation was to bring back some of the $4 billion that Canadians spend annually on foreign betting sites such as Bet365 and Bodog.
Speaking of the new legislation in an emailed statement, Justice Minister David Lametti said:
“We fully support these changes, and are eager to see them move forward.
The changes put forward would help take illegal betting profits from single-sporting events out of the hands of organized crime, and give provinces and territories the ability to regulate and redirect the funds back into our communities,”
In a press release issued moments after the passing of the bill, theScore Founder and CEO John Levy is quoted as saying:
“We commend the members on all sides of the House of Commons for quickly passing this much-needed legislation. Today’s development is a major step forward and we are increasingly encouraged by the widespread industry and strong cross-party support that Bill C-218 has garnered. Now that Bill C-218 has been passed by the House, we look forward to the Senate swiftly carrying the ball over the goal line.”
The same press release mentions a recent study that estimates that the introduction of single-event sports betting could see the Canadian industry generate between US$3.8 billion and US$5.4 billion in gross gaming revenue.
The Senate is set to reconvene on May 4th, but it still could be some weeks before Bill C-218 is discussed, as government legislation is usually dealt with before private members’ bills.
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London based reporter covering all aspects of the global regulated and unregulated land-based and online gambling industry - including business news, sports-betting, casinos, poker & regulation