Canada proposes legalising sports betting

A Canada sports betting bill has been introduced in the House of Commons that would expand gambling to allow betting on single-game sporting outcomes.

Bill C-218 from Member of Parliament Kevin Waugh (Saskatoon-Grasswood) is an act to amend the Criminal Code. The legislation would “make it lawful for the government of a province, or a person or entity licensed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council of that province, to conduct and manage a lottery scheme in the province that involves betting on a race or fight or on a single sport event or athletic contest.”

Parliament’s Criminal Code currently only permits sports betting on several event outcomes linked together into a single wager – aka parlays. The law is a safeguard against perceptions that allowing betting on single games jeopardises the integrity of sports and leaves leagues prone to corruption.

Waugh, as well as other members of parliament, say the recent expansion of sports betting in the US is reason for Canada to amend its gaming regulations relative to sports.