Bettors in the U.S. can bet on the outcome of each game of the World Series. Those in Canada cannot. The Canadian Gaming Association has welcomed Windsor candidate Sandra Pupatello’s commitment to seek single-game sports betting. The organization called on all parties “to fight for the simple amendment that provinces requested 10 years ago.”
Some $10 billion in Canada dollars are bet each year through illegal bookmaking operations, and more than $4 billion is wagered through offshore online sports wagering sites. Windsor West liberal candidate Pupatello would work to get legislation passed to allow single-game sports betting something her rival Brian Masse was unable to do so.
‘“We need to change our laws to allow for single-sports betting in order to be more competitive and capture more of the revenue that is currently going offshore or to unregulated or illegal beneficiaries,” Pupatello said in a press conference October 10, as reported by the Windsor Star. “The Canadian Gaming Association estimates this would add up to 150 jobs right here in Windsor, perhaps another 100 in Niagara Falls. It could result in another 1,000 or 1,500 across the country. The revenue for provincial governments would go up by as much as a billion dollars.”
The CGA was thrilled to have Pupatello’s support, said Paul Burns, president and CEO of the association. “This change would give provinces the tools to deliver a safe and legal option to Canadians while helping economic benefits, such as jobs, flow to communities and provincial governments.”
The CGA said gaming in Canada provides almost 182,500 jobs and good salaries—the average national wage is $65,000—and a portion of the revenue generated pays $9.1 billion to fund government, community programs, charitable causes, and First Nations initiatives.
“Let us not lose sight of how one small change can drive enormous benefits to the Canadian gaming industry, Canadian communities, as well as Canadians, who just want to be able to bet on the outcome of the Stanley Cup, NBA Finals, or World Series,” Burns said. “With all party support and assistance from our federal government, its time has come for single game betting.”
With the casino as a backdrop to her media gathering, Pupatello credited former MP Joe Comartin and Masse with getting the ball rolling on the issue. Comartin’s bill got through the House of Commons, but it eventually stalled in the Senate.
A U.S. Supreme Court ruling in May 2018 has allowed individual states to offer single-game betting. The major sports leagues in North America, the NHL, NBA, MLB and NFL, are now all supportive of single-game betting to try and get a piece of the gambling business. In addition, Pupatello said the Canadian gaming industry is being hurt by its inability to offer a product its direct competitors in Michigan, Ohio and New York now offer.
In other CGA news, the Supreme Court of Canada has granted the association’s motion to intervene in the Atlantic Lottery Corp. versus Babstock lawsuit.
Douglas Babstock and Fred Small proposed a class action alleging harm by video lottery terminals which offered line games similar to slot machines, highlighting seven causes of action, including breach of contract, negligence, unjust enrichment and waiver of tort.
The Atlantic Lottery appealed the class action that it must disgorge the profits it has earned from its video lottery terminals on the theory that they violate the prohibition on three-card Monte, which is prohibited under the criminal code and not exempted by its conduct and manage power.
“This will be an important appeal for the gaming industry as a whole, and an excellent opportunity to persuade the Supreme Court to implement a clear and balanced approach to this part of the criminal code,” Burns said.
