Canada is looking to expand its legalized sports betting in Canada.
Conservative Member of Parliament Kevin Waugh introduced Bill C-218 to amend the Criminal Code to allow single game sports betting.
The Canadian Criminal Code currently prohibits bets on a single sport event or athletic event. This means a legal bet requires a parlay bet, meaning bettors must bet on and currently predict the outcome of two or more events. For instance, in Ontario, Pro Line requires bettors to pick between three and six events and correctly predict the outcomes of the game.
This isn’t the first time single game sports betting bills have been introduced. Bill C-290 and Bill C-221 have both been introduced in the past seeking to legalize single game sports betting, however, both bills ultimately failed.
Bill C-218 has the support from the major leagues, the Canadian Gaming Association, and the Province of Ontario. Commissioners of the NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS, and the CFL all echoed their support for the new bill.
In the past, similar bills were met with opposition from leagues. For example, at the time Bill C-290 was introduced, the NHL was opposed to the Bill stating single-game sports betting compromised the integrity and reputation of the NHL and undermined the fans confidence in the product. But now, with sports betting becoming legalized across the United States, leagues have found a new revenue stream with legalized gambling and Canada is another market for leagues to explore.
Legalizing single game sports betting can have significant economic benefits. An estimated $14 billion in sports bets are made on the black market and through offshore online gambling websites which the Canadian government cannot regulate.
With the continued support of leagues and provinces and the possibility of economic benefit, legalizing single game sports betting in Canada seems inevitable.