A push is continuing in the Canadian parliament to amend the criminal code to allow single-game sports betting, something that is currently banned.
The code allows some sports betting for casinos managed by provincial governments but total prohibits betting on the outcome of a single sporting event. This was originally done in 1985 to make it harder to manipulate individual matches. Technology has in the meantime advanced making it easier to monitor game-fixing, so many feel the law isn’t necessary anymore.
A major shift in Canada’s southern neighbor came three years ago when the U.S. Supreme Court lifted a federal ban on sports betting—enabling the current stampede by the 50 states to legalize it. This has certainly had an effect on Canada, where provinces are clamoring to be allowed to be competitive with U.S. states.
The amendment under consideration is contained in two bills, C-13 and C-218. C-13 is sponsored by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General David Lametti. It is the third such attempt in six years. C-218 is sponsored by a member of the opposition party, Kevin Waugh. C-13 differs from C-218 in excluding horse race wagering, retaining the existing Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency. C-218 would remove the federal government from regulating wagering on horse races.
Both bills are moving slowly and it is uncertain when debate will begin on either of them. If approved in the House of Commons they would need approval by the Senate and then Royal Assent before becoming law.
Law enforcement is only lately been turning its attention to offshore wagering sites that currently accept single-event wagers from Canadians. This activity—including mob run operations and unregulated offshore sites, is estimated to be about $10 billion a year, according to the Canadian Gaming Association.
The current legislation would redirect some of those funds into government coffers.
