Bill C-218 Welcomed by North American Betting Industry

There is good news for sports bettors in Canada as the country’s senate has passed a bill that will allow single-event sports betting, rather than only bets on multiples.

The Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, bill C-218, passed with a vote of 57-20. The bill repeals a part of the country’s criminal code that states that sports betting is only legal if bettors place bets on three or more sports games simultaneously. Conservative MP Kevin Waugh sponsored the bill.

The passage of my Private Member’s Bill to legalize single-event sports betting in the Senate is a victory for Canadian sport, sport fans, and businesses. This bill is a win for Canadian taxpayers, workers, and sports fans. Canada’s Conservatives will continue to put forward common-sense bills that create economic opportunities and help Canadians.

Kevin WaughConservative MP

Canada’s government and a number of respected associations, such as the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), supported the bill. BCLC’s interim president and CEO Lynda Cavanaugh said, “This is a huge win for PlayNow.com players, and British Columbians overall. We’re excited to soon provide our players these new offerings on PlayNow.com.”

The news was also welcomed by media company theScore (TSE: SCR) whose chairman and CEO John Levy described it as “an historic moment for Canada.” He said that the bills passing will allow the operators to create a robust industry that will help to “drive business, technology innovation, employment and economic growth”.

A number of major North American sports leagues have also supported the bill while US operators are already working to establish themselves in the Canadian market.

The Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) released a statement praising the bill’s passing. They described it as a “major milestone and achievement” that will bring “economic benefits for Canada.” Before becoming law, the bill must receive royal assent, but this is essentially a formality.

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