The Canadian House of Commons could vote as early as September 21 to send C-221, which would amend the national criminal code to allow single-game wagering, to the Committee on Justice and Human Rights for further deliberation, or to reject it. If legislators vote to refer the bill, it’s expected to pass the House and move on to the Senate, which previously has blocked bills legalizing sports wagering.
Introduced by MP Brian Masse, C-221, known as the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, states: “This enactment repeals paragraph 207(4)(b) of the Criminal Code to make it lawful for the government of a province, or a person or entity licensed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council of that province, to conduct and manage a lottery scheme in the province that involves betting on a race or fight or on a single sport event or athletic contest.”
Currently Canada allows parlay card betting–two or more connected bets on different game outcomes, offered exclusively through provincial lottery corporations. If C-221 passes, provinces would not be mandated to also offer single-game betting, but they would have the option to offer it.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government will not support the bill, said the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Justice, MP Sean Casey. That announcement came as a surprise since Trudeau’s liberal party supported C-290, a previous version of the bill. A may not be re-introduced for five years, so if C-221 fails, another sports betting bill would not be introduced until 2021.
Masse’s measure is almost identical to an earlier bill, C-290, which easily passed the House of Commons but failed in the Senate in 2011.
Canada’s illegal sports betting is estimated at $14-$15 billion annually, about 10 percent of illegal sports betting in the U.S., according to the American Gaming Association. NDP MP Tracey Ramsey noted Canadians “have spent around $500 million annually betting on sports legally” for the past 10 years. She added allowing sports betting would benefit regional tourism industrieNDP MP Kennedy Stewart said allowing sports betting would offer greater transparency and stated it will occur whether it’s legal or not. Masse said legalization would divert money from organized crime and help create jobs.
In opposition, former Toronto police chief and current Liberal MP Bill Blair previously spoke against C-221, noting, “While I appreciate the economic advantages that the proposed reform could bring about, the big concern I have to share is the impact that this proposed change could have on individuals and families, the social costs of gaming. I believe that if Bill C-221 were to pass, the costs to the provinces and territories would inevitably increase. More important, the cost to individuals, families, and society would increase.” Blair added even if the bill passes, sports bettors would continue to bet illegally because illegal bookmakers extend generous credit and take a lower percentage than legal operations.
