It’s an issue that has not resonated with the Canadian government. Now a coalition of major North American sports leagues have come out in support for single-event sports betting.
In a joint statement published by the Canadian Gaming Association, the NBA, NHL, MLS, MLB and the CFL hailed the efforts.
“Sports betting gives fans another exciting way to engage with the sports they love,” the leagues said. “Because a legal and regulated sports betting market in Canada would be beneficial to sports and their fans, we urge prompt action to make this a reality.”
Michigan would prefer Canada maintain the status quo which allows only parlay betting where gamblers must win three or more bets depending on the size of the parlay. With such bets the house has a better rate of return. So Canadians would be apt to cross the border to wager, once the travel ban expiries with the end of the coronavirus pandemic.
According to Conservative Member of Parliament Kevin Waugh and the gaming association, an estimated $14 billion is bet illegally each year, according to CDC Gaming Reports.
Single event betting would create additional revenue for the state, as Canada recovers from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
Waugh is leading the push to change the law through the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, which had its first reading in the House of Commons in February.
This marks the third attempt by New Democratic Party MP Brian Masse to change the law. Masse, who seconded the introduction of Waugh’s bill, previously filed similar legislation himself in two different sittings of parliament.
