Canada Tries To Follow the US Lead As They Attempt To Legalize Sports Betting
Canada, America’s neighbors to the North, is one step closer to legalizing sports betting. The sports betting industry in the United States has continued to boom since the Supreme Court overturned a national ban on sports betting in 2018.
New York and New Jersey have legal sports betting, with New Jersey having the most lucrative sports betting market in the country. Montreal, Canada, is just a 45-minute drive to the New York border into the United States. Realizing the potential lost revenue to our Northern states, Canada is making strides in getting a sports betting law to pass.
This has been an ongoing debate for Canadian lawmakers. The federal government in Canada has thrown up roadblocks twice in the past to any attempts to legalize sports betting. That was before COVID-19, which has had a negative impact on most economies in the world.
This Time Sports Betting Passing Looks Promising
This time around, Canadian lawmakers are more hopeful than ever that they will indeed have single-game sports betting very soon. A new bill known as ‘C-218’ is set to be heard on Thursday, December 3, 2020.
The bill will be presented to the Canadian Legislator by David Lametti, Canada’s version of the Attorney General. Lametti is considered to be a very liberal politician and a legal scholar. The Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) will oversee sports betting in the country. The CGA has been very vocal about their support for lifting the ban on sports betting in Canada. The CGA said,
“The CGA is pleased that the federal government has recognized the urgent need to amend the criminal code to offer safeguards to Canadians as well as an economic recovery tool for the provinces. By introducing a government bill, the industry can be assured that it will be dealt with in a timely manner and will benefit from all all-party port to see it through.” Paul Burns, the CEO of the CGA, said, “We are grateful for the government stepping in to ensure passage. The bill enjoys strong support from all the major parties in the House of Commons, so we are extremely confident it will be able to pass later this spring.”
Sports Betting In Nearby Michigan Helped Moved The Needle
Canadian Parliament member Irek Kusmierczyk talked to the ‘Windsor Star’ about sports betting and the possibility that it will soon be legal in his country. Kusmierczyk’s territory includes an area very close to Caesars Windsor in Michigan said, “Because it’s a government bill now, this is a huge step because, in all likelihood, this is going to get done. I am confident this is going to get done.”
Officials in Canada estimate that Canadians spend over $14 billion a year on sports betting. However, most of that money is bet illegally, so the government doesn’t collect taxes. Gaming officials said that about $500 million is spent on parleys and is subject to taxes. Major sports leagues in Canada voiced their support for legalizing sports betting in Canada. Through that support, they convinced government officials in Canada that overturning the ban on sports betting would be beneficial for all Canadians, as the US did in 2018.
